Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

Directors. Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda
Stars. Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito
Rating. 3/5

It has Dr. Seuss in the title, but not in its soul. This CGI-rendered and 3D-padded screen adaptation of The Lorax,the eco-themed 1971 tale by the late Dr. Seuss, feels like just another studio cartoon. There’s loads of bright colour, but little of the enchantment of more Seussian screenfuls. The Lorax presents a walled and tree-less place named Thneed-Ville, a synthethic suburb where people worship plastic instead of plants. Not everyone, though: teen cutie Audrey (Taylor Swift) yearns for a real tree, and her lovestruck swain Ted (Zac Efron) aims to oblige.

He sets off on a voyage outside Thneed-Ville’s confines. The enviro message is all to the good, but the characters just don’t do Seuss justice.

Marley

Director. Kevin Macdonald
Stars. Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff
Rating. 4/5

A leisurely but thorough biodoc of Jamaican reggae great Bob Marley, showing how the humble man became the superstar artist. Oscar-winner Kevin Macdonald (One Day in September) canvasses every aspect of Marley’s brief life. Everyone’s heard from, including Marley’s widow Rita and a couple of his former mistresses.