This IS a review (The Lorax)

I took my eight year old grandson, E, to the movies today. Normally I enjoy and look forward to going to the theater. I am very picky about the movies I see since it is something I don't get to do often - it is too expensive. Example: 3:45 matinee for one adult and one child, plus popcorn & drinks is $32.00.  Stupid, I know. For this very reason I am very selective in what I go see. With that said I will let you know that it was E that choose to waste money on "The Lorax", the movie supposedly by Dr. Seuss. 

There are a myriad of reasons for why I would not have chosen to see this movie and I have listed, in order of importance, a few:

1.  Dr. Seuss did not want any of his books to become hollywood movies.  He made this quite clear after he tried to make a movie with the hollywood sort and it turned out bad.  He did however agree to make cartoons with Chuck Jones, which gave him control of the out come.  Hence we have greats like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "The Sneetches" and "Horton Hears a Who" to name a few.

1.  It was AFTER his death that his "wife" granted the OK to make movies.  What a harlot.

1.  "The Lorax" is one of my least favorite stories by him.  I may have liked it in another time but the "green movement" has all but colored my view on saving the environment.

1.  I knew it would be anti-capitalist.  I love Dr. Seuss but hate his political views.  One of the few (if not only) person I have been able to look past his poor wayward ways and still enjoy his writings.

So to say that I was a bit jaded about this movie would be an understatement to say the least.  But my cherub decided this was to be his reward for his goals and so we went.  It was pretty much what I expected.  There were a few laughs but a lot more groans.  Even a moment when I said out loud "OMG - I can't believe they did that!"

It was a song the Once-ler sang when he decided he would bigger his company.  Here are a few words from the song:

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/how-bad-can-i-be-lyrics-ed-helms-the-lorax-singers.html ]
There's a principle in business (principle in business)That everybody knows is sound.It says the people with the money (people with the money)Make this ever-loving world go 'round. So I'm biggering my company, I'm biggering my factory, I'm biggering my corporate size. Everybody out there, take care of yours and me? I'll take care. of. Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. (shake that bottom line)

There is more to this horrid song but the gist is there.  Of course, Dr. Seuss' views go hand in hand with the hollywood sort so I really shouldn't have been surprised.  But I was and I let those around me know what I thought.  Luckily my grandson is either 1) use to me making comments like this and/or 2) didn't care.  I guess there could be a third possibility in that he didn't hear me.  Though that seems unlikely since the lady setting next to me heard and just kind of looked at me funny. 

Another aspect of the movie is that the Lorax does seem to be a divine creature.  He "magically" appears and even states something to that effect in the movie.  This is defiantly against everything I have been trying to teach my little one. 

Luckily for my grandson he got to ride home with me and not "the hollywood sort" and I got my say in (and in all honesty will continue as I ponder more about the movie as time goes on).  I guess that would be the unlucky part of living with me.  I'll continue pondering and talking about it waaaayyyyy after he forgot about seeing it.

Case in point:  we are exiting the movie and my first comment was (as it is always is after we read this story at bed time) "If your going to run a company you need to be responsible and not greedy.  Look after your product and take of it so you don't run out of what you need."  This was followed by "God probably sent the Lorax to the Once-ler to help him so he could take care of his business and those around him but he didn't listen did he?"

I hope E hears that message louder.