Horton Hears a Who (2008)

The works of Doctor Seuss have not previously translated well into film, witness the dismal How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or the reportedly awfull The Cat in the Hat. Even Geisel’s sole composition for a feature film: The 5,000 Fingers of Doctor T, largely fails despite its highly creative production design. The new theatrical Horton Hears a Who succeeds because it renders Seuss's story (albight expanded for the screen) and visuals in the only way they can reasonably be rendered, in animation, this case CG (remember how good many of the cartoon televison adaptations of Suess story's were). The voice cast is good, wide, and appropriately restrained, I always like to see Jim Cary hold it back a little. Carell perfectly cast as the mayor. Bright fun that I think will wear well, the movie crescendo’s very satisfactorily at end, much surprsaing my reasonable expectations. A strong 3 out of five.