‘The Lorax’ - #12 of 2012

Okay, so I haven’t seem very many 2012 films yet, so the rankings for the few I have seem are a bit clumped right now.   However, The Lorax’s third place ranking (at the time of this post... which was more accurately known as LAST PLACE) is merited, at least in the company of the other two films I have seen this year.  That said, I am pretty sure Salmon Fishing in The Yemen and The Hunger Games will maintain fairly high rankings, probably Top 25 or so…while I am confident The Lorax will fall like a brink. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think The Lorax will stay in last place… however by December, I am sure it will have a nice home in the mid to low range of my dynamic list for 2012.

I just don’t know where to begin.  It’s not a horrible movie.  It’s a perfectly fine children’s movie.  However… I just… erg… sigh.

Listen folks.  The problem with adapting Dr. Seuss is that there just isn’t enough source material to fill a feature length film, forcing filmmakers to stretch and add filler.  Sometimes the filler works. Sometimes it doesn't.

In Ron Howard’s version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the filler, in the form of the Grinch’s back-story and Jim Carrey antics, worked.  It totally worked.  And the reason it worked is that it stayed true to the endearing story and complimented the source material.

However… The Cat in the Hat did not work.  Sorry, Mike Myers, but it didn’t.  Honestly, there is no excuse for this movie because The Cat appears in so many of Dr. Seuss’ books and there is PLENTY of source material.  However, this film seemed to rely solely on potty humor and Alec Baldwin’s bizarre side plot.  There is nothing sweet or redeeming about this film.

On the other hand, Horton Hears a Who!, the third full length adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book totally worked and it is by far the best feature length version of Seuss.  Honestly, I know there is filler in this film, however it is so subtle and so perfectly meshed with the original story that it is almost impossible to see where the filmmakers departed from the source material.  I could be wrong, but I don’t even think they added anything.  I think the merely expanded what the book already offered without making too many radical thematic shifts.  And they didn’t even borrow from Horton Hatches the Egg like Broadway did with Suessical, The Musical in an effort to expand the tale of Horton.

And now we have the fourth full length Suess adaptation: The Lorax.  Made by the same animation studio that made Horton… however they missed the mark by neglecting to compliment the source material.  Sure, the basic story of The Lorax existed… reimagined quite a bit, but it existed.  However, the source material played a very minor role in the overall movie.  And while I understand what the filmmakers were trying to accomplish by centering the story around the boy who wants to hear the story of what happened to the trees, rather than the Onceler or The Lorax… it didn’t work for me.  It could have… but it didn’t.  Mainly because the futuristic plastic city where the boy lives felt more like a poorly made version of Meet the Robinsons and Robots.  It didn’t feel original.  And like the mistake made by The Cat in the Hat, this adaptation of The Lorax seemed to put more focus on plot points of its own invention rather than the beauty of the book that inspired it.  As I said before, I understand what the filmmakers were trying to accomplish, it just didn’t work.

I guess my point is this.  I have all of the Dr. Seuss animated television specials produced by MGM.  And when it comes to watching The Lorax I think we’re going to stick with the 1966 television version.     

Fun Fact: The Three Stooges (Original Cast)

Gather around kids!  It’s time for a Ridiculous Movie Fun Fact!

The original cast of this year’s The Three Stooges was originally set to be Benicio del Toro as Moe, Sean Penn as Larry, and Jim Carry as Curley. 

Seriously.

In any movie, I would consider this to be a DREAM CAST!  All three are so talented in such different ways.  In addition, for them to have the audacity to unite for the Farley Brother’s version of The Three Stooges is so hilariously wrong that I would have no choice but be giddy with uncontrollable excitement!  Just the cast announcement itself was enough to wet myself.

Somewhere, there is very smart casting director who knew what this movie needed to be a success and made it happen.  That’s right, I am serious!  I am not lying.  Del Torro, Penn, and Carry really WERE official attached to this film… together… at the same time… however; the amazing casting director who made the unthinkable happen must have the worst karma EVER! 

Sean Penn dropped out of the film to focus on rebuilding Haiti after the earthquake. 

Jim Carey dropped out when his doctor informed him that the desired 70 pound weight gain would be detrimental to his health… he had already gained 40 pounds for the part and was not interested in wearing a fat suit.  I believe Jim has been avoiding roles with heavy make-up components ever since The Grinch.

And honestly, I have no idea why Benicio del Toro dropped out… I can only assume he finally woke up and realized the project was a very, very…. very bad idea.

Seriously bad…

How does one define the depths of awful badness? 

Well… the cast of The Jersey Shore will be making cameos… so yeah… I think that defines the pit of badness.  This film might even be worse than The Musketeer.  Which I find hard to believe.

That said, when you talk about over-the-top comedies, ‘bad’ is a very hard things to define.  The Zucker Brothers, poorly received, homage to the Maxx Brothers, Brain Donors, starring the very established John Turtuorro, is one of my all time favorite comedies.  So, who knows. 

The Three Stooges is current #2 at the box office, which is nothing to sneeze at.  And with the films new, lesser known cast, the possibly for a franchise is much more realistic.  

However, could Benicio, Sean, and Jim have sold more tickets and secured Stooges #1 at the box office, dethroning The Hunger Games four week grip on the top spot?   Probably.  Casting is everything?

Remember Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie  Nemar with Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo?  Yeah… it was #1 for two weeks back in 1995.  I remember.  I was working at a movie theatre at the time and I couldn’t believe how people were lining up to see that movie.