This film, out of all of the Dr. Seuss movies, not only had the closest look to the original source material, but it looks amazing. And, I was like, "Hey, they actually did it. This actually looks like a Dr. Seuss movie done in computer animation." I was very impressed by it.
But, no matter how great an animated film looks, it can only be good as its story. And, my God, did they screw that one up, big time.
Not the actual story itself, that's fine. It's the pop culture references that they just dumped into this film. Really? Are you that afraid that you may lose the adults that you have to sledgehammer those stupid jokes in? And, the sad part about it is that there were moments in the film that actually felt like it came straight out of the books that this was adapted from. I mean, I understand it's a short book, but you didn't have to fill it up with these things that make no sense to the story. Or, worse, distracts you from it!
Now, I didn't mind them adding Jim Carry's shtick to Norton's personally, although I felt it would have been better if they didn't. So, because of that, he was sort of amusing to watch, although, sometimes, I just drop my head in embarrassment as some of the things he does. But, I did think that Steve Carrel did a good job, himself. In fact, I actually thought the two actors were doing such a good job working off each other that it actually felt natural.
But, as soon as those moments were gone, we get some of those good ol' pop culture references. Like that anime sequence that makes no sense because how does Norton's know what anime is. Was there a television in the background, somewhere?
Now, in case you don't see my rating at the top, I'm just going to prematurely tell you my rating of this movie is a two. And, yes, I know that my review, up to this point, sounded like it should have been higher, like a six. Well, let me tell you why I gave this a two.
As this movie was about to wrap itself up, I was thinking, "Hey, you know what, it wasn't great, but I thought it was nice and those pop culture references, as annoying as they were, they weren't that bad." Then, as if a hand came out of the screen and b***h-slap me, they have to end the film with a song. And, to make matters worse, they animated it like a music video. Why? What, in God's name, does it have to do with the movie? What is the point of it? What message does it convey, besides showing how NOT to end a movie that is tightroping on a line of mediocrity? Now, if it was a song that was originally made for this movie, I would have just let it go. However, after of plethora of stupid pop culture references, I would be very surprise if that song didn't aired on the radio years ago. Well, guess what, it was a hit by REO Speedwagon back in 1985 called "Can't Fight This Feeling." Wow, how ironic.
And, do you remember that cute little character named Jojo? Well, in the beginning, I knew that he was voiced by Jesse McCartney. You know, Justin Beiber's predecessor? Well, he only had about three or four lines in this movie, as the character of Jojo was silent through most of the time. And, as soon as that...f'ing scene came up, he gets to sing a solo line. And, that's when I began to think that they only got him just so they can do this scene. Or, since he is primarily known as a singer, they just want to throw him a bone and let him sing a little. Either way, it doesn't work. No, wait a minute, it does work. In that it made it even more worse!
And, that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I gave this a two. I was willing to let it be as it is, but because they ended this movie on such a horrific note, that is so God-awful, that it made me reject the film as a whole because it felt like it was leading up to that moment. A song that has no business to be in a Dr. Seuss movie. A song that doesn't even match with what they were doing. Except that I can't fight my feelings I have for this crappy movie!
Yes, the animation is great, and it does have its moments, but it was hijacked from the very beginning by writers who seemed to have little or no respect for the source material. I wish to give it more stars, but every time I think about this movie, I kept thinking about that stupid ending and how it left a terrible taste in my mouth. And, after three years, I'm still trying to wash it out. That's how much I hate this movie.
But, no matter how great an animated film looks, it can only be good as its story. And, my God, did they screw that one up, big time.
Not the actual story itself, that's fine. It's the pop culture references that they just dumped into this film. Really? Are you that afraid that you may lose the adults that you have to sledgehammer those stupid jokes in? And, the sad part about it is that there were moments in the film that actually felt like it came straight out of the books that this was adapted from. I mean, I understand it's a short book, but you didn't have to fill it up with these things that make no sense to the story. Or, worse, distracts you from it!
Now, I didn't mind them adding Jim Carry's shtick to Norton's personally, although I felt it would have been better if they didn't. So, because of that, he was sort of amusing to watch, although, sometimes, I just drop my head in embarrassment as some of the things he does. But, I did think that Steve Carrel did a good job, himself. In fact, I actually thought the two actors were doing such a good job working off each other that it actually felt natural.
But, as soon as those moments were gone, we get some of those good ol' pop culture references. Like that anime sequence that makes no sense because how does Norton's know what anime is. Was there a television in the background, somewhere?
Now, in case you don't see my rating at the top, I'm just going to prematurely tell you my rating of this movie is a two. And, yes, I know that my review, up to this point, sounded like it should have been higher, like a six. Well, let me tell you why I gave this a two.
As this movie was about to wrap itself up, I was thinking, "Hey, you know what, it wasn't great, but I thought it was nice and those pop culture references, as annoying as they were, they weren't that bad." Then, as if a hand came out of the screen and b***h-slap me, they have to end the film with a song. And, to make matters worse, they animated it like a music video. Why? What, in God's name, does it have to do with the movie? What is the point of it? What message does it convey, besides showing how NOT to end a movie that is tightroping on a line of mediocrity? Now, if it was a song that was originally made for this movie, I would have just let it go. However, after of plethora of stupid pop culture references, I would be very surprise if that song didn't aired on the radio years ago. Well, guess what, it was a hit by REO Speedwagon back in 1985 called "Can't Fight This Feeling." Wow, how ironic.
And, do you remember that cute little character named Jojo? Well, in the beginning, I knew that he was voiced by Jesse McCartney. You know, Justin Beiber's predecessor? Well, he only had about three or four lines in this movie, as the character of Jojo was silent through most of the time. And, as soon as that...f'ing scene came up, he gets to sing a solo line. And, that's when I began to think that they only got him just so they can do this scene. Or, since he is primarily known as a singer, they just want to throw him a bone and let him sing a little. Either way, it doesn't work. No, wait a minute, it does work. In that it made it even more worse!
And, that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I gave this a two. I was willing to let it be as it is, but because they ended this movie on such a horrific note, that is so God-awful, that it made me reject the film as a whole because it felt like it was leading up to that moment. A song that has no business to be in a Dr. Seuss movie. A song that doesn't even match with what they were doing. Except that I can't fight my feelings I have for this crappy movie!
Yes, the animation is great, and it does have its moments, but it was hijacked from the very beginning by writers who seemed to have little or no respect for the source material. I wish to give it more stars, but every time I think about this movie, I kept thinking about that stupid ending and how it left a terrible taste in my mouth. And, after three years, I'm still trying to wash it out. That's how much I hate this movie.
Tell Your Friends