Zac Efron, Taylor Swift star in 'Dr. Seuss' The Lorax,' new on DVD and Blu-ray
"Dr. Seuss' The Lorax""Dr. Seuss' The Lorax"
Zac Efron
A boy trying to impress a girl seeks a rarity in their synthetic city: a real tree.
The only arbor expert, the Once-ler, who lives outside polluted Thneed-ville's high walls, tells him about the Lorax, who tried to save the trees.
This computer-animated comedy is based on Dr. Seuss' 1972 eco-fable.
The exaggerated environmental message's impact is blunted by endless sight gags, adorable forest critters and sugary songs, threatening to turn this into a formula-driven kiddie romp. But maybe that's what it takes these days, to cut through all the noise.
The 2012 film stars the voices of Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White, Ed Helms and Danny DeVito. Released in many theaters in 3-D, the film cost $70 million and sold $324 million in tickets globally.
PG, 86 minutes. DVD extras: three excellent new mini-movies, a featurette on the making of the mini-movies, a deleted scene, games, a sing-along and more. The Blu-ray adds other bonuses, including a game.
Grade: B. Extras: A. Available Tuesday, Aug. 7.