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Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!

(1970, Rated NR, Family and kids, Starring Hans Conreid, June Foray)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Four classic Seuss animated TV specials.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Birds are portrayed as gossiping and lazy. Possitive lessons about how much even the smallest voice and smallest person matters, and dedication to protect living things and fulfill promises.
  • Violence & scariness:

    Very little and of the cartoonish variety -- Wickersham brothers threaten to boil the dust speck and cage Horton. In a throwaway gag in Horton Hatches the Egg, a Peter Lorre look-alike fish fatally shoots himself in the head. Two lands are on the verge of disaster in the inconclusive finale of The Butter Battle Book.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    "Jerk"
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!

Parents need to know that kids will see some cartoonish violence. Most notably, some characters cage Horton and almost throw the dust-speck world he discovers in a cauldron of boiling water. There are three more stories on the 2008 DVD: The Butter Battle Book (1989), Daisy-Head Mayzie (1995), and Horton Hatches the Egg. These three tales range in tone from light-hearted to heavy. Horton Hatches the Egg is the most kid-friendly, though it unfortunately ends with a throwaway gag where a fish shoots himself in the head. Preschoolers should enjoy the simplicity of the stories and the Seussian wordplay, although the dark messages, such as mutual destruction (The Butter Battle Book), and loneliness (Daisy-Headed Mayzie), will fly over their heads.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families who watch this DVD with their youngest might want to also introduce their kids to Seuss books (including Horton). Parents with slightly older kids might discuss Horton and the lessons he teaches.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Mexico
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    OK, FOR MY SISTER

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0

    Watch the Extras too!

    We bought this for our 5 year old in lieu of the "new" version. I have seen this original one before. The copy we have has an extra option that chronicles the history of Dr. Seuss and tells more of his stories in a very theatrical and entertaining way. We will not let our son watch the "Horton Hatches an Egg" segment because we have a strict NO GUN policy. Other wise it is a great video!!!!!

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Homeschooling Kanga

    I thought this was a cute movie, aside from some unnecessary language and violence, and the odd twist that portrayed the "bad" kangaroo mother as a weird "homeschooling" mother who felt like she needed to over shelter her child. I felt that the movie was trying to impress a negative social statement about homeschoolers( an un-informed and ridiculous statement I might add) and as a homeschooled child I was slightly offended at this suggestion.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 2.0

    Love Dr. Suess, Hate the suicide

    The fish shooting himself in the head with a gun horribly unnecessary.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0

    Third Time's a Charm

    Finally, an adaptation of Dr. Seuss that sticks to the story the way it was written. The extra time was made up in detail instead of new scenes. Jim Carey plays the role of Horton with just enough of his standard crazyness to believable and enjoyable. Carol Burnett as the Sour Kangaroo adds just enough fright to keep the story moving.

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    is good for kids

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    Lame Trailer means Lame movie

    The trailer looks lame. If the trailer looks that lame it probably is lame.

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Nebraska
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    good

    this is a great movie

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

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