The Lorax – New 3D animated film – Review

I remember buying The Lorax , the book that is, way back in the 1970s I think it was. Though it was a kids book and I was an adult the Lorax made a big impression on me.

I think it was one of the first kids books to deal with environmental issues and for some reason it struck a chord with me.

Years later I read it to my children and my wife, who was a teacher, took it into school to read to  her classes. One day sadly it got left there, so I no longer have the 30 year old copy.  (I’ve subsequently discovered that first edition copies can reach over £1000 )

So I was keen to see the new version ( with added 3D!) yesterday  I saw it in a press screening at the Edinburgh Film Festival.   So how had it survived the journey from short book to major feature film?

Not too bad. Ok it has been Disneyfied and cutened ( is that word?) I’m not sure about all the songs. Particularly toward the end, it all became a bit evangelical. and Hapy Happy ending, which creates the impression that the world has all been put to rights, when of course it hasn’t. There was a young romance which I’m not sure was in the original story, but they did need to fill 90 + minutes, so a romance is an easy option.

The young hero sets out to save the planet (sorry trees) not out of any altruistic intentions, but to impress the girl.   Apart from that  I think it stuck pretty much to Dr Seuss’s theme.

NOTE: I’ve now check out the original story, which begins and ends with the environment as a wasteland, though the ending has a glimpse of hope, when the young lad is given the last live seed. So yes the story in the film has been changed.

The ancient computer I’m typing this on at the delegates centre is really slow, so I’m going to leave it there, before I get too frustrated

But I think I’ll go and buy the book again.