Mar. 07, 2012 - Issue #855: (Re) cycling
The Lorax
"Well now, The Lorax was a beloved Seuss book. But the movie turns its green message into a catchy hook. On the page was this creature that spoke for a thing called a tree, but the Once-ler ignored him and deforested—you see?
"The movie, though, rarely rhymes out eco-wrongs, instead tinkling out some cheery pop-songs. In place of the Dr's quirky curlicues and curves come neon-brite colours and action-chase swerves. The corporate satire's mature, savage, almost wildish (O'Hare's packaged Air is the target now there), but the movie's view of nature is decidedly childish.
"Outdoors frolic furry creatures cute as can be. And guess what's all you really need for a tree? Not a googolplex, or a fajillion, not even three. (Not like in the way, way better Wall-E. And forget replanting in this film's forestry.) Gone is the book's 'you,' replaced with a 'me.'
"Because you really just need one kid and one seed! And the motivation of love, oh yes, indeed! And just to make all this Hollywoodization, this snappy, fizzy, poppy enviro-libation, sugar-coated for the ADD-kid generation, even more delicious to swallow, well, the look of it all seems oddly plastic and hollow. The trees look like candy-floss lollipops, to be brutal. And the Lorax? A walrus-moustached cheese doodle. ... Perhaps I'm just old, and criticize rather a lot, but too much here is nutrition-less food for thought." vueweekly.com comments: powered by Disqus
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