CRITIC'S CORNER
'Horton Hears A Who' worth admission
By DNA Smith
"Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who!" Running time: 88 minutes MPAA rating: G

Horton (voice of Jim Carrey) eyes the speck he learns is Whoville.

I guess the third time's a charm. The first two attempts at bringing the works of Dr. Seuss to the big screen ("Cat in the Hat" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas") looked like they came from Poo-ville rather than Whoville. Thankfully, "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who!" is finally the Dr. Seuss movie we've all been waiting for. Who knew?

One of the reasons "Horton" is so good is that it's an animated feature rather than live action, so all the whimsy of Seuss' visual style can be fully realized. Another reason is that although released by 20th Century Fox, the film has ex-Pixar animator Jimmy Hayward onboard as one of the directors. Hayward worked on such Pixar classics as "Finding Nemo," "Monsters Inc." and the two "Toy Story" films.

Let's add to the mix a funny script that has laughs for both kids and grownups and wonderful vocal performances by Jim Carrey (as Horton), the awesome Carol Burnett (as Kangaroo) and Steve Carell (as the Mayor of Who-ville).

For those who need a refresher on the story: Horton is a happy-go-lucky elephant in the land of Nool. One day he hears a sound coming from a dust speck on a clover. He discovers there is a teeny civilization, Who-ville, existing on the dust speck. The self-proclaimed leader of Nool, Kangaroo, who "pouchschools" her joey, says that since we can't see Who-ville it cannot, must not, exist. It must be destroyed.

Horton tries valiantly to save the dust speck from the evil machinations of Kangaroo, while the teensy Mayor of Who-ville tries to convince his constituents that there is a world beyond theirs and they must make themselves known if they are to survive.

This version of "Horton," while not the same as the classic TV special (no monkeys chanting "boil that dust speck"), and despite the awful REO Speedwagon musical ending (too "Shrek"y), is well worth the price of admission.

GRADE: A

(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.