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Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!

  • 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?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Adorable 'toon fun for all, no matter how small.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • 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 out for

  • Violence & 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.
  • Sexy stuff:

    The mayor's wife tells him she loves him, and they hug.
  • Language:

    The Kangaroo offers a few mild insults about Horton's behavior. A little mild potty humor.
  • Consumerism:

    Nothing in the film itself, but there are multiple merchandise tie-ins with IHOP, events at Target, contests in newspapers, etc.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!

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.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • 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?

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Our Members Say

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See all 66 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    A GREAT MOVIE THAT WILL MAKE LITTLE KIDS LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!!!

    This movie is a very funny movie to watch with your family. Young children are garetied to like it. Even some adults will get atleast one laugh out of it. SOME MILD PERIL MAY BE SCARY FOR VERY YOUNG VIEWERS NOT FOR KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 4.

  2. I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    A Funny movie that's perfect for the whole family!!!

    This latest Dr Seuss film is a funny movie that is perfect for the whole family. I think think that kids ages 5+ will love this movie . Parents won't have to worry about their kids watching this movie. There is nothing wrong about this movie. The action is mostly cartooon-ish and the language is just mild insults. I really recommend this movie to families who like animated movies that have talking animals in it. I gave this movie an A to an A -. I thought that this movie was pretty funny and that the animation was pretty good.This is something that the whole family would enjoy. I like this film a lot!!!

  3. I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Perfect family film.

  4. I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Perfect family film.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Perfect for older kids, but not preschoolers.

    This movie was ful of action, however I was unimpressed with the language for my daughters (4 and 20 months). While I was up and down chasing my 20 month old around (the movie definitely did not hold her attention after the first 20 minutes), I caught the use of the word "idiot" at least seven times before losing count. The word "boob" was also described in a degrading manner either to someone and/or about them. These are not words I would encourage my 4 year old to use. Also, some of the characters are menacing, scary, and downright rude, and my 4 year old hid her eyes several times throughout.

  6. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0

    Crazy but fun for all

    I just found this so original. The first viewing I only saw in bits - and wasn't that impressed, if not a little confused, but when I sat down and watched the whole thing I loved it and so did my son. Most four year olds won't understand absoloutely everything but will be entertained by the humour and super imaginative animation. It is also quite a beautiful story and a little deep too - gives you something to think about.

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    bad movie...boring

    BORING!

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Wisconsin
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    No Matter How Small...

    The movie is great and it teaches an important lesson, no matter how small you are, you are still there and you are important too. It also teaches that you can be what you want to be. the only reason why I give it 4 stars is because of the violence.

  9. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 3.0

    My kids liked it.

    This movie was l little crude with some of the language but if you teach your kids that some to the names they said were bad and that is not the right thing to do I think it will be alright for them to see.My kids enjoyed the movie. I didn't really care a whole lot for it, but hey its a kids movie.

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Louisiana
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0

    Awesome!!

    This movie is for kids 4 and up because you see Horton's butt and it gets sad at times but it is a great movie. It's by doctor seuse and her books and movies are very funny. This is kid apropiate.Go ahead and see it!!

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    i laughed

    its a really funny movie.

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0

    Not awful

    This movie is not a really bad movie as far as letting your kids see it. I think it is a matter of how the adults standerds are. The worst realy thing they have in the movie is the mayor is called a boob. They do not say this word sexually at all. Its just said like someone would say idiot. Thats really as far as I saw the only bad thing. The movie is not scary but may a little scary for really really small kids. For example- SPOILER: The mother kangeroo hires a scary bird to destroy the flower that has a world on it. At this time she does not realize that there really is a world on it. At the end the people cage horton and pokes him with sticks I belive. NO blood is shown. They also almost drop the flower with the speck-world on it into like some sort of asid thing. But they save it. There is some cartoon violence like that but NOTHING graphic. I think many kids should be able to handle it. Its not really bad. Many kids should do fine!

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

    Wonderful!

    Horton Hears a Who is one of my favorite movies! I loved & so did my whole family :)

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Probably the best kiddie movie I've seen in a while!

    This film had beautiful animation, paying very faithful tribute to the world that Dr. Suess has created. The story also proves a positive message of perserverance. The voice acting was great, and I love the casting choice. The music made each scene that had it better and the humor was overall suprisingly smart!

  15. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

    very cute

    this movie is a cute funny movie that the whole family can enjoy and most likely will enjoy. this movie is also a laugh out loud comedy. do not miss your chance to watch this movie

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Kapooly STINKS

    (Kapooly is the review under mines) This movie was awsome! It was so funny and I loved the ending. Little kids would be entertained by the bright and cool effects and it is a must see movie!

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 1.0

    HORRIBLE

    I think this movie was AWFUL and am very thankful I screened it ahead of time. I would NEVER allow my children to watch this movie. The language was very crude and the characters were really mean. I prefer for my children to not hear the words moron, boob, stupid, ect.... from a movie that is suppose to be made for children. Alot of things that only adults would understand. I think Dr. Suess would be appalled that one of his books was distorted in this manner.

  18. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 4.0

    Worth your time and money, 100%

    This is a great movie. There are sound morals, there are no bad words, it is pretty funny, and the acting is superb. I had no complaints about this movie (accept for the fact I’m not big in musical numbers, but that’s my personal tastes), the worst thing you, or your family will learn is that, “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.” The writing is spot on. It feels like the story that my mom read to me as a kid, except bigger and better. The writers hid the fact that it was a kids movie so well, that I forgot the fact that it even was a kids movie. They had some amazing morals, just take a look at this line, “A person’s a person no matter how small.” The actors they got felt like they were fully involved with this movie. They used their talents to make this move more than what most people expected it to be (an average kids movie like Clone Wars, Speed Racer, or some other bland, kids flick). You can tell that they all spent some serious time on this film.

  19. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    great movie

    it was really great. i saw parts of it and it was cute. a movie for the whole family! wish it would come on dvd soon.

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Awesome movie!

    I loved this movie! It was fun to watch...and I'm a teenager! Really appropriate for all ages, my baby sister (she wasn't even 1) loved watching an elephant dance around onscreen! Great message in the end! There was some slapstick humor, but nothing scary, and I loved the cast! With Steve Carrell and Jim Carrey, you can't go wrong!

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