Danny Devito is the voice of the Lorax in this animation movie. While this movie is for the entire family, is it also chocked full of symbolism for older viewers. It is definitely a pro-environment movie and it is against capitalism that puts profits above all other concerns. Little kids love the story with its cutesy characters, but adults will find deep meaning in the story as well.
Click here to see the rest of this review...
It begins with the efforts of a teen boy Ted (with the voice of Zac Efron), trying to figure out what lies outside the walls that surround the city where he lives. The city is a corporate-controlled environment where everything is plastic, including the trees. The richest man makes his fortune by selling bottled purified air to the populace. There are rules that prohibit anyone going outside the walls. In spite of this, Ted ventures outside to see what exists in the wasteland. He runs across the home of the Once-ler (with the voice of Ed Helms) who, with a lot of coaxing, tells Ted the story about long ago and what happened.
When the Once-ler was a young man he invented a thing called a "Thneed." The Thneed was made from the Truffula trees. At first no one wanted a Thneed but then it became the height of fashion. To keep up with the demand for Thneeds the Once-ler embarked on a mission to cut down every Truffula tree until there was not even a single one left. He is warned against doing this by the Lorax who represents a voice of reason and nature. The Lorax tries to explain the impending environmental disaster. But nothing stops progress until the very last Truffula tree is cut down. After that, everything stops because there is nothing more to be done and no more resources to work with. The Once-ler falls from high position of wealth and power into despair and isolation.
Ted learns he has a chance to restore the Truffula trees and that there is a seed for a single one. He takes this seed back to the city and nurtures it to life, finally reversing the path of environmental destruction to the delight of the citizenry.
Best part of story, including ending:
It is very interesting that this story contains many levels to appeal to all age groups. There is the simple story for kids and the much deeper symbolic meaning for adults.
Best scene in story:
When the evil Mayor O'Hare who is as short as a midget comes up with the idea of selling purified bottled air even when his businesses are the source of the air pollution. It is a clear case of corporate greed, to both create the problem, and sell the solution.
Opinion about the main character:
Ted is our hero because he is not afraid to venture outside of the city walls to find out for himself what is really going on.
