Rated: G
Distributor: Alliance Entertainment

This is by far the best film translation of Dr Seuss' books after the disastrous How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Cat in the Hat. Going animated is the only way to bring the author's beloved characters to life.

Written in 1954, Horton Hears a Who! has entertained millions through its various adaptations, including a 1970 television special and Broadway musical in 2000.

Horton (voiced by Jim Carrey), an adorable elephant, hears faint cries for help coming from a tiny speck of dust floating in the air. Turns out there's a microscopic world with a thriving society living in the speck. After making contact with the Mayor of Whoville (Steve Carell), Horton sets out to find a safe place for the miniscule Whos. But finding a new home for the Whos is fraught with dangers from the jungle and the disapproving and domineering Kangaroo (Carol Burnett), who thinks Horton is losing it and is a bad influence on their jungle community. Despite being berated and made fun of, the courageous Horton protects the Whos with his life, sticking by his belief that "a person is a person, no matter how small".

The animation by Blue Sky Studio (Ice Age) is polished and refined, even if it lacks the details Pixar is known for. At a lengthy 90 minutes, Horton originally a 30-minute story is plagued with pacing and rhythm issues. That said, it is a fantastic children's fable with a strong moral message, making it an ideal family film.

The DVD comes with an Ice Age short film, We Are Here! game and some elephant fun facts that will keep the kids entertained. Also includes an audio commentary, deleted scenes and animation screen tests. -JS