Hatchet reporter Talia Weisner shares her latest movie experience.

“The Lorax” (2012)

A lesson in environmentalism in the form of a classic children’s story, “The Lorax” ventures beyond the bounds of your classic animated film. Loosely based off the Dr. Seuss story of the same title, “The Lorax” tells the tale of a 12-year-old boy named Ted (voiced by Zac Efron) on a search to find a tree in an apparently tree-less, greedy, industrialized world.

Finding this tree is the key to winning the affection of his best friend and crush, Audrey (Taylor Swift). To find it, he must enlist the help of the short, furry orange creature called The Lorax – the grumpy, mustached protector of the trees (Danny DeVito), who isn’t too keen on human intruders on his land. Through befriending his furry mentor, Ted learns how his world ended up as it did – artificial and without nature – and subsequently, the reason for The Lorax’s ill-tempered demeanor.

The film’s young stars, Swift and Efron, do an excellent job of fitting into their roles. Efron, whose acting talents don’t go unnoticed even hidden behind his animated visage, delivers a particularly impressive performance. That said, DeVito is arguably the picture’s real star, executing jokes with the skill – and voice – we’re all familiar with. The star-studded film also features Ed Helms as the Once-ler and my personal favorite, Betty White as Ted’s grandmother.

Though at times a tad lecture-filled, “The Lorax” does its job, and a pretty good one at that. The anti-capitalist undercurrents of the plot are well-balanced with comic relief, most coming from DeVito. The film features bright colors and skillful animation you’d expect from a Dr. Seuss adaption and a pretty touching story about a young boy’s quest to win the heart of the girl he loves.

Genre: Animated, Family
Director: Chris Renaud
Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Betty White
Release date: March 2