When I heard that the creators of 2010's Despicable Me were tackling Dr. Seuss' inventive story about a forest creature who speaks for the trees, I couldn't have been more ecstatic. And while The Lorax didn't deliver on all my expectations, I will admit that it has just enough wit and youthful innocence to entertain the whole family.
Like all of Dr. Seuss' stories, The Lorax presents a simple premise with a deep moral lesson. Zac Efron voices 12-year-old Ted, a budding adolescent who takes off on a wild adventure to find a live tree, the one thing that will enable him to win the affections of the girl of his dreams. To find it, he must travel beyond the city walls to the Once-ler where he will discover the true story behind the bushy orange creature that rules over the forest.
Featuring an all-star cast that includes the voices of Zac Efron, Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift, Ed Helms, and Betty White, The Lorax is a fun, simple film that refuses to venture outside the box. And while consistently playing it safe isn't always a bad thing (especially when it comes to family fair), it leaves much to be desired here.
Still, at the end of the day The Lorax is a solid family film that has enough heart and soul to will its way to the finish line. The humor doesn't require much thought, but sometimes all we need is an mindless escape.
