Poster art for "Horton Hears a Who."

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Avg. Critic Score: 71 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
4 OK for kids 4+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 91
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    If I ran the circus, the gang that made the sturdy, witty, inventively animated Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! would get first dibs on any future movie productions of the Theodor Seuss Geisel canon. Read full review

  • 88
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    The look of the story is an undeniable treat, and the message it weaves is both funny and sweet. Horton Hears a Who! is razzle-dazzling and artful, and it builds on Seuss' words by the clever cart-full. Read full review

  • 80
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    A delight, brimming with colorful, elastic characters and bountiful wit. Read full review

  • 75
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Carrie Rickey

    For its intended audience, Horton's agenda is overt: Listen, be a friend, and most important - have fun! Read full review

  • 70
    Washington Post | Desson Thomson

    It does honor the book's flavor and spirit with a bright, funny treatment. Voice performers Jim Carrey (as Horton) and Steve Carell (the Mayor) play their roles just right, without making the movie about them. Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times | Carina Chocano

    Unlike so many computer-animated movies, "Horton" doesn't have that garish, sealed-in-plastic effect that can be so claustrophobic. Read full review

  • 70
    Variety |

    The real stars of the movie are the animators, who imbue even the overgrowth in Horton's jungle with a certain floppy Seuss-ishness. Read full review

  • 63
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    It's a tough balancing act and probably a futile one. As greedily as Hollywood looks upon these books as a franchise to strip-mine, the hard fact remains that what's good about them - Ted Geisel's untrendy gentleness, humor, and intelligence - resists translation to the big screen. Read full review

  • 60
    Wall Street Journal | Joe Morgenstern

    Endearing, though sometimes belabored. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | A.O. Scott

    There are aspects of "Horton,"... that are fresh and enjoyable, and bits that will gratify even a dogmatic and orthodox Seussian. Read full review

View more reviews for Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 4+ Adorable 'toon fun for all, no matter how small.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this movie is based on Dr. Seuss' beloved children's book. The book's wide fan base, coupled with the popularity of voice actors Jim Carrey and Steve Carell -- not to mention a great deal of marketing power -- should make most kids, especially those under 12, interested in seeing the film. Its message, like many of Seuss' tales, is one of inclusion and protecting those who can't protect themselves. There's not much in the way of iffy content, either, aside from a little mild potty humor. Even Vlad, the slightly scary bird, is funnier than he is disturbing.
  • Families can talk about the movie's message. Kids: What does Horton's motto -- "a person's a person, no matter how small" -- mean? How does he prove that he means it? Families can also discuss how the movie stacks up against the book. Are the extra characters and storylines in keeping with the spirit of Dr. Seuss' original? Do you like this animated adaptation better than live-action ones like The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Why or why not?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: Horton's two mottos are important life lessons: "A person's a person no matter how small," and "an elephant's word is 100 percent." Horton's behavior teaches kids about keeping promises and protecting those who can't protect themselves.
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence and scariness: The Wickersham monkeys attack Horton with bananas and later participate in a near-lynching (led by the Kangaroo) of Horton and his Whoville speck. Vlad the bird is scary but also funny.
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: The mayor's wife tells him she loves him, and they hug.
  • language false0 Language: The Kangaroo offers a few mild insults about Horton's behavior. A little mild potty humor.
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: Nothing in the film itself, but there are multiple merchandise tie-ins with IHOP, events at Target, contests in newspapers, etc.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

Looking for more reviews? Movies.com Critics Say:

Dave White

3.5

Dave White Profile See Dave White's Profile

… the animation is perfect. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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