As the newest kid-friendly fare to hit theaters, “Horton Hears a Who” exists in that strange place where quality seems to matter little. The newest animated flick is always an easy sell for families. It’s a rare occurrence for the opening weekend of a big-studio animated film to settle for anything less than box office conquest. Yes, there are distinctions that elevate certain films of this genre. Pixar’s films rise above the rest because of their appeal to adults and their rewatchability factor. Disney films rise above because of their pedigree.

However, aside from Pixar films, quality, American-made animated films are far and few between. Very few, in fact. It is for this reason that the relative quality of “Horton Hears a Who” comes as both a surprise and a delight. This is doubly enticing considering the presence of orgiastic vocal stylings of such over-the-top performers as Jim Carrey and Steve Carrell. Not that these two do a poor job in the movie (Carrell is actually wonderfully subdued as the titular Who), but Pixar’s affinity for true vocal chameleons is something to be desired among such studio fare as this.

That said, “Horton Hears a Who” is alive in its animations, rendering memorable moving portraits of Dr. Seuss’ unforgettable creation. One of the best (if not the best) Seuss adaptations, “Horton” will appeal to children with its silliness, while adults will embrace (mostly) the manic-ness of the film, both vocally and visually (the throwback, nearly 2-D kung fu scene provides a perfect contrast to the precise, polished animation of the rest of the film).

Still, the film is not without its flaws. The characterization found in Dr. Seuss books is hardly complex, but somewhere between conception and adaptation the filmmakers needed to do a little more. Sure, the characters are fun, but the maxims of the film are developed much more than (and sometimes in place of) the characters. For children this is fine, but for adults this will begin to become tiresome. I understand the filmmakers’ need to treat the material as sacred (Hey, I was a kid once, too!), but by not expanding upon Seuss’ characters, they do his work an injustice.

Also, I don’t know what to make of this perfunctory trend of ending children’s films with elaborate song-and-dance routines, but I have had just about enough with it. Sometimes it works (probably the high point of the God-awful “Madagascar”); other times it does not (Seriously? “The Polar Express?” Talk about obliterating an established tone.). “Horton Hears a Who” falls somewhere in between. It is not entirely bad, just unnecessary. These filmmakers, more than most, need to trust the quality of their own creation enough to know that what they have brought to life is enough to entertain the tots, sans the mind-numbing, movie-ending musical number.

In the end, “Horton” is pleasing to the eye, surprisingly pleasing to the ear, and will certainly please your pre-pubescent (whether that be your actual child or your inner child). Masterwork, it is not, but the best American-made animated film (not created by Pixar) since “Happy Feet,” it is. That isn’t saying a lot, but it is saying something.

Last Word: “A perfectly fun, blessedly subdued, and precisely rendered take on Dr. Seuss’ classic. While nothing brilliant, any American animated film of any quality is worth noting in my humble opinion.”

==Written by Luke Gorham==

==From: In Review Online (www.inreviewonline.com)==

Dr. Seuss's classic 1954 book Horton Hears a Who has entertained generations of children and served as the inspiration for a 26-minute, 1970 television special Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who and the 2000 Broadway musical Seussical: The Musical. This 2008, full-length animated movie features the voice talents of Jim Carrey as Horton, Steve Carrell as the Mayor of Whoville, Carol Burnett as the Kangaroo, and Jesse McCartney as JoJo and promises to delight a whole new generation of children and their parents and grandparents. The technological wonders of computer animation have allowed 20th Century Fox Animation to bring to life the wacky, colorful Whoville with its minute inhabitants and the lush Jungle of Nool with its host of distinctive animals and the result is a rich, fantastical world of wonder worthy of Dr. Seuss' own imagination. All the major plot elements of Dr. Seuss' book are present, with Horton hearing the faint cry for help from a tiny dust speck atop a small clover and doing his best to protect the inhabitants of that small civilization of Whoville despite the disbelief, disdain, and persecution of his fellow animals. The feel of Dr. Seuss' original rhyming prose is partially preserved in the sparse narration by Charles Osgood that's interspersed throughout the film's dialogue and the overarching themes of staying true to one's convictions and the celebration of the power of perseverance, imagination, and kindness come through loud and clear. Horton Hears a Who is a fun rendering of a classic Dr. Seuss story that's sure to entertain viewers of all ages. --Tami Horiuchi

Beyond Horton Hears a Who ! on DVD

Nim's Island on DVD

Alvin and the Chipmunks on DVD

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium on DVD

Stills from Horton Hears a Who! (Click for larger image)