Horton Hears a Who! (U)

Starring - Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Dane Cook, Isla Fisher

Animated CGI movies that are meant to appeal to both children and adults are ten-a-penny these days but Horton Hears A Who is certainly one that certainly stands out.

Combining the charm traditionally associated with two-dimensional animation with the advanced animation techniques of modern-day CGI, Horton Hears A Who is an imaginative take on the Dr Seuss tale, made with a great deal of care and attention to detail.

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Horton (Jim Carrey) is an elephant. As everybody knows, elephants have big ears and it is these giant lugholes that enable him to hear the tiny voice coming from a speck of dust that happens to fly past.

The voice belongs to the mayor of Whoville (Steve Carell); a town full of tiny Whos existing on the tiny speck.

Worried for the safety of Whoville, Horton vows to protect the tiny city and its people by transporting them to a safe place.

However, his jungle mates don’t believe his far-fetched story, so it’s up to Horton to convince them of their existence if he is to save Whoville – as well as himself.

Jim Carrey takes on the role of a second Dr Seuss character following his famous turn as The Grinch and, along with Steve Carell as the mayor, is a revelation in the voiceover role.

Both actors really bring their characters to life, imbuing them with buckets of humour and charm. 

The animation is also a delight, from the well-realised supporting characters, who are cute and funny in equal measure, to the astoundingly creative city of Whoville itself, which is a vibrantly colourful and inventive feast for the eyes.

Although the film drags a little towards the end, Horton Hears A Who is, at around 88 minutes, about the right length to ward off numb bums and fidgeting, keeping the children entertained and mums and dads happy.

It’s the perfect treat for the school holidays.

Seen it? What did you think?