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Created Mar 27, 2008 12:57AM PST • Edited Mar 27, 2008 12:57AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

   This Dr. Seuss film adaptation fills the screen with amazing animation backed by an all-star cast of eclectic comedians who make the most of their roles. Maybe filmmakers will “reboot” the live action installments later using this same outstanding animation. I will be surprised if this film doesn’t get an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   Jim Carrey voices Horton the elephant with great comic timing. Horton’s great hearing abilities help him discover Whoville, which exists on a tiny speck. Horton definitely thinks out of the box, matching Carrey’s persona perfectly, as his connection to the tiny inhabitants of Whoville grows stronger. Steve Carell (Dan in Real Life) voices The Mayor of Whoville who develops a special communicative bond with Horton. This dynamic duo produces humor with heart, creating the film’s great, all age appeal.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Really Great 4.5

    Chris Wedge (Ice Age) co-produced this colorful experience while Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino direct – a typical teamwork strategy in computer animated feature films. This talented team, combined with a huge crew, makes a nice transition from the live action adaptations while still appealing to adults. The first Whoville sequence is one of the best animated introductions ever. The camerawork flows as well as the smooth animation. Too bad this animated approach wasn’t taken at the start of the film adaptations.

11. Direction Really Great 4.5

12. Play Really Great 4.5

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.2

    Mild fights against the bad guys. Horton must fight similar slander from other creatures of his homeland as he tries to save the tiny community of Whoville. Leading the charge against Horton’s antics is an antagonistic kangaroo (Carol Burnett) and Vlad the vulture (Will Arnett, Arrested Development). The mayor must address some family issues and the constant agitation from the Whoville city council, who refutes Horton’s existence.

17. Sex Innocent 1.2

18. Violence Gentle 1.2

19. Rudeness Polite 1.2

21. Reality

    Fantasy 4.5

    The freedom and creativity from the animation eliminates the constant need for too many jokes in the live action Cat in the Hat and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, which also starred Carrey. These previous adaptations included largely unrelated pop culture references and improvisational humor from the male leads to boost the short source material. The animation style even mixes the classic Dr. Seuss book illustrations and a hilarious Japanese style animation sequence based in Horton’s imaginative mind.

22. Circumstantial Fantasy 4.5

23. Biological Fantasy 4.5

24. Physical Fantasy 4.5