With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
'Lorax' Speaks Loud, Clear And Green For Trees
Listen
• 2:17
RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
In the early days of the environmental movement, the children's author Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, wrote a book about saving trees. That 1971 book has now been made into a film, opening today, "Dr. Seuss's The Lorax."
Film Kenneth Turan has our review.
KENNETH TURAN: Movies always have monkeyed around with their source material, but "Dr. Seuss's The Lorax" actually apologizes for what it's about to do. The fuzzy orange Lorax, amiably voiced by Danny DeVito, steps out in front of a theater curtain and announces: There's more to this story than what's on the page. You have been warned.
Support for LAist comes from
Let's start with 12-year-old Ted, voiced by Zac Efron.
(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX")
TURAN: He's a miniature adult who uses breath freshener spray and has the wiseacre attitude of a Las Vegas lounge lizard. This irritating young man is infatuated with a girl named Audrey.
(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX")
TURAN: Fortunately, real trees have disappeared from the town. The only person who seems to have a clue about them is Ted's grandmother, voiced by Betty White.
(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX")
TURAN: Once the Once-ler is tracked down to a desolate area, he is rightly suspicious of Ted's motives.
Support for LAist comes from
(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX")
TURAN: The Once-ler eventually describes how his own youthful greed put him into conflict with The Lorax who, as every reader of the Dr. Seuss original knows, speaks loud and clear for the trees.
But to expand Seuss's slim volume to theatrical feature length, a whole lot of plot and heaping handfuls of characters needed to be invented. These new individuals are, for the part, unpleasant and new the aspects of the story are forced.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LET IT GROW")
TURAN: By the time a cheerful song tries to rescue the film at the end, the original Lorax has left the building and is not coming back.
MONTAGNE: Kenneth Turan reviews movies for MORNING EDITION and the Los Angeles Times.
It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist