It is a funny thing, but these cute and cuddly animation films sure do pack quite heavy moral, social and political material, that would put most adult orientated cinema to shame.

Such is the case with Horton Hears a Who!, based on the popular children’s book written by the legendary Dr. Seuss. It takes on two popular issues: global warming and the debate between belief and non-belief, and the latter’s use of totalitarian and secular rule to crush the stance of the former.  

Jim Carrey stars (or rather his voice does) as Norton, an eccentric Elephant who comes across a speck perched upon an orchid. Inside the speck is a world called Whoville. Its Mayor (Steve Carell) is the only one in contact with Horton, and charges him with protecting Whoville from any damage brought on to its fragile existence.

Both Carell and Carrey – two of the better comedic talents in Hollywood – provide very good voice work, Carrey in particular impresses since (like Jack Black in Kung Fu Panda) his hyper personality suits the animation medium well. 

Both Horton and the Mayor are accused pf being mad from their communities. Horton especially faces stiff opposition from Kangaroo (Carol Burnett), the villain of the piece who comes across very much like popular atheist figure and founder of American Atheists, Madelyn Murray O’Hair. She charges Horton with the decree “if you can’t see it, hear it, or feel it, then it doesn’t exist!”

All the while the opinions of her son Rudy (Josh Flitter) is pushed aside in favour of her own extreme ideals, much like O’Hair and her son William Murray whose relationship was strained to say the least. Kangaroo hires the vulture Vlad (Will Arnett) to destroy the spec. But Horton stands his ground and is persecuted for his beliefs, as is the Mayor by the upper echelons of Whoville.   

It may sound serious, but trust me: Horton Hears a Who! is big, bright, and colourful fun film with a zany sense of humour which will appeal to both kids and adults. It is also – after How the Grinch Who Stole Christmas (2000) and The Cat in the Hat (2003) – the most faithful and fulfilling adaptation of Seuss’s work.