Critics Consensus

Critics Consensus: The Lorax is Good, But Not Tree-mendous

Plus, Project X is a bummer of a party.

by | March 1, 2012 | Comments

This week at the movies, we’ve got an animated eco-parable (The Lorax, with voice work from Zac Efron and Taylor Swift) and a wild party (Project X, starring Thomas Mann and Oliver Cooper). What do the critics have to say?

The Lorax

54%

Delightful as Dr. Seuss’ books are, they aren’t all that long, so it can’t be easy to adapt them to the big screen. The critics say The Lorax sometimes feels padded with action and musical numbers, but on the whole, it’s bright and colorful, and it delivers a solid message about protecting the planet. Ted (Zac Efron) is a youngster who ventures beyond the seemingly idyllic confines of Thneedville and discovers that greed has led to deforestation, despite the warnings of the diminutive orange tree defender the Lorax (Danny DeVito). The pundits say The Lorax does a nice job of capturing the visual style of Seuss’ book, and it contains some solid gags, but it’s also so busy and action-packed that it mostly forgoes the whimsy (and the message) of its source. (Check out this week’s Total Recall, in which we count down DeVito’s best-reviewed movies).

Project X

29%

Just when you think every idea for a teen party comedy has been exhausted, along comes the mockumetary Project X, which purports to capture the wild goings-on of a particularly raging kegger. Unfortunately, critics say the film is mostly a mean-spirited wallow into areas better explored in Animal House and Superbad. A trio of nerds decides to throw a birthday party in order to increase their social standing; bedlam (and would-be hilarity) ensues. The pundits say Project X might have merited some laughs if it bothered developing its characters, but as it stands, it’s essentially just a string of “outrageous” incidents that test the bounds of good taste.

Also opening this week in limited release:

Finally, props to Zach K for guessing Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds‘ 31 percent Tomatometer, and to Ben C for guessing Gone‘s 11 percent Tomatometer.