The Lorax

This is a delayed review from when I first ever watched this movie but my close friends know that this movie holds a special place in my heart. I was reintroduced to this movie probably around 2021 by some kids I was babysitting when I was in a ~silly~ mindset and I thought this was the greatest piece of cinema of all time. I then watched it as a joke in a less ~silly~ mindset and the same belief held true. You can say I am one who speaks for the trees and this movie, which is outstanding. Everything about this movie is absolutely glorious. The voice cast is full of absolute stars. Zak Efron, who finally decided to graduate from High School, was stellar as Ted, who I think was like 13 in the movie. Speaking of 13, TAYLOR FUCKING SWIFT HOLY SHIT!!!!!! The only downside of my queen Taylor's performance was that she was a ginger in this movie. One of the most talented actors of the late 2000s and early 2010s Ed Helms ATE in this movie. The singing was ~chef's kiss~. Before I shout out the star of the show, a major shoutout to known niche voice actors Jenny Slate and Rob Riggle. Sorry that Lorne Michaels fired both of you from SNL. #RIPBettyWhite. And last but not least. He is my Letterboxd profile pic for a reason. Danny Devito. Oh Danny Devito. What an icon. He spoke for the trees from his motherfucking heart. So much raw emotion in this performance. The songs in this movie controlled the movie and they ignited a fire in me. I listen to the album whenever I go to the gym. Obviously, when you have voice actors with singing experience (Ed Helms did acapella at Cornell, Zac Efron was in High School Musical, and you know Taylor Swift has sung a few songs before), you take advantage of them. I can sing every song on this album word for word bar for bar. Thneedville is a riveting monologue that introduces the scene of this whole movie. Sets the foundation right. In the exclusive version not filmed in the movie, Rob Riggle, who isn't known for his singing, killed it. Ed Helms took over during the flashback scenes as the Once-Ler, who was very musically talented for some reason. And lastly, Let It Grow made me shed a tear. When this film was announced in 2009, the term "climate change" was becoming extremely popularized. It showed that we as a society were causing a drastic change in the environment due to the emission of fossil fuels and the cutting down of trees. At the time, 2009 was reported as the second hottest year ever in history. It was not shocking that the bright minds at Illumination wanted to create a film to spread positive propaganda about climate change. The movie shows a world where all the trees have been cut down to create room for factories, which is fueled by consumerism and leads to pollution and the devastation of the environment. “Nature” is a concept unknown to the people of Thneedville. The town is fueled by big business, namely by the company that sells fresh air, O’Hare Air. This fucking simp Ted activates demon time mode because Audrey desires a tree (to be fair if Taylor Swift asked me to do anything I would do it in an absolute heartbeat). At surface level, the story is a fable about the importance of environmentalism. It calls out the consumers who feed this vicious cycle and chastises large businesses and corporations whose products are slowly ruining our ecosystem. Indeed, a number of factors, including greenhouse gases, hazardous waste, and global warming, are endangering the ecosystem and putting our world at risk. Many fail to realize that the negative effects of climate change will soon become permanent. Therefore, the necessity for Dr. Seuss' and the great people at Illumination's warning could not be greater. For me personally, the more I rewatch this movie, it isn't really about climate change; it is about activism in general. Standing up for the rights of the oppressed. The Lorax is a famous character who famously says in his introduction to the Once-ler, "I speak for the trees," appealing to him on their behalf and speaking out against injustice. It is a story about empathy and caring enough to take action. Therefore, The Lorax serves as a reminder, one that is sorely needed now due to the time period we are in, to speak out against oppression and injustice and to try to bring about change. Despite the fact that The Lorax is a children's book and movie, we should all remember its important lesson even as adults. All in all, this film slaps. Heavily recommend. 10/10. 5 stars.