Reviewed by Kevin Finnerty

“What I want more than anything is to see a real living tree,” says Audrey (Taylor Swift) to her completely smitten friend, Ted (Zac Efron), residents of a city where everything is plastic including the trees in the animated film, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.

Determined to find a real tree for his dream girl, Ted heads out of the city after talking to his grandmother (Betty White) and learning of an old hermit named “The Once-ler” (Ed Helms) who lives somewhere outside of town and knows about the famous Lorax who is the protector of the trees. Heading out of the city, Ted unknowingly triggered the security cameras in town, alerting Mr. O’ Hare (Rob Riggle), the most powerful man in town. O’ Hare is more than concerned with anyone leaving town and trying to find out about trees since one of his main forms of income is selling bottled air to the citizens of the town. Ted has just succeeded in making a very threatening enemy.

Meanwhile, Ted’s only chance of learning the secret of how or where to find a tree depends on him listening to The Once-ler’s story of the Lorax and what happened to the tree-filled paradise that his city once was.

Charming and cute, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is an entertaining family film that has a good ensemble of voice actors bringing the characters to life. Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Taylor Swift , Betty White and, yes, even Zac Efron all do a solid job. But the best characters in the movie are all the wild animals, including the bears, fish and birds who steal every scene they’re in and provide the biggest and best laughs in the film. They are an absolute delight.

The 3D animation is extremely effective in bringing the audience into the film. The scene where Ted travels the desolate land that used to be a tree-filled garden with cute, cuddly animals gives the audience the feeling they’re riding right along with him, and it’s a perfect example of the film’s terrific use of the 3D format. The animation is bright, colorful and glossy.

One of the biggest drawbacks and problems with the film is its in your face, slam you on top of the head handling of its pro-environment, anti-greed, anti business agenda. Although the film’s message about taking care of and appreciating nature is a noble one…and, yes, everyone should do their part to help the environment…the way it’s handled in the film is way, way too preachy and over the top. Perhaps The Lorax should have been green and blue instead of orange and yellow.

Another minus with the movie is the forgettable and at times annoying songs which do nothing to assist in telling the story and are sure to generate groans from the audience. Note to the filmmakers, if you’re going to spend the time and effort on songs in your animated movie, make sure they are tunes the audience will be humming or whistling to themselves as they walk out of the theatre.

Not as heartfelt and soulful as Up or as original and funny as How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Horton Hears A Who, The Lorax is still a sweet, funny, and touching film that’s sure to make children and adults smile, laugh, and who knows maybe even plant a tree when they get back home.

GRADE: B-

The Lorax hit theaters on March 2, 2012 and is rated PG for brief mild language