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"DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX"
(2012) (voices of Zac Efron, Ed Helms) (PG)


Alcohol/Drugs None
Blood/Gross Stuff Minor
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Heavy
Frightening/Tense Scenes Moderate
Gun/Weapons None
Imitative Behavior Heavy
Jump Scenes Minor
Music (Scary/Tense) Heavy
Music (Inappropriate) Minor
Profanity Minor
Sex/Nudity Mild
Smoking None
Tense Family Scenes Mild
Topics to Talk About Heavy
Violence Moderate


QUICK TAKE:
Animated Dramedy/Musical: As he tries to find a real tree to impress the girl of his dreams, a boy hears a hermit's tale of what caused the deforestation of their land long ago.
PLOT:
Ted (voice of ZAC EFRON) is a 12-year-old boy who lives in the walled town of Thneedville where all plant life is completely artificial. The girl of his dreams -- Audrey (voice of TAYLOR SWIFT) -- would someday like to see a real tree and thus Ted sets out to find one. The problem is only his Grammy Norma (voice of BETTY WHITE) remembers them from long ago, while everyone else -- including Ted's Mom (voice of JENNY SLATE) -- seems content with the plastic ones and the bottled air supplied by Thneedville's mayor and number one businessman, Mr. O'Hare (voice of ROB RIGGLE).

Grammy informs Ted that he needs to find the Once-ler (voice of ED HELMS) if wants answers and a possible solution to his "impress Audrey" conundrum. Accordingly, Ted leaves the walled city into the desolate outside environs where he eventually meets the reclusive hermit. The Once-ler initially wants nothing to do with Ted, but changes his mind once he hears the boy is interested in real trees.

The hermit then proceeds to tell the tale of his involvement in their disappearance. We then see a number of flashbacks to him leaving town, intent on making a name for himself, as well as lots of cash, creating a multi-purpose product. He finds the right "ingredient" in the form of the colorful and fibrous Truffula Tree tufts and proceeds to cut down one such tree to get them. That brings about the appearance of the diminutive but highly opinionated guardian of the forest, The Lorax (voice of DANNY DeVITO).

He informs Ted of the error of his ways, and the young businessman agrees not to chop down any additional trees, and instead harvests the tufts, all while befriending the local animals of the land. But when his product suddenly becomes a hit, he needs to increase production, which can only mean the downing of the trees. Back in the present, Ted listens to the tale in amazement and realizes, with a little help from the Once-ler, that he can make a difference. But he must then contend with O'Hare who sees the possibility of a real tree endangering his air monopoly and control of the people of Thneedville.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
It's a good bet many younger kids will be drawn in by the advertisements aimed at them.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG
For brief mild language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • THE LORAX is the diminutive but outspoken guardian of the forest who...


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