DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX
Colorful, musical, and best experienced at home with guidance.
Should You Watch It?
DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX offers plenty for younger viewers: bright animation, creative images, fun music, and cute teddy bear friends. Its central reminder—that creation is beautiful and should not be taken for granted—is worthwhile. The movie also ends with friendship, reconciliation, and hope for a fresh start.
The trouble is that the film’s environmental message becomes strongly political. It suggests that capitalism and free enterprise are inherently bad and that the desire to make money or become an entrepreneur will inevitably destroy the planet. The family relationships are also troubled, including an absent father, a “crazy” mother, and adults who use deception or fail to show love.
Because the film is only moderately successful as entertainment and carries these concerns, watch it at home, where you can guide the conversation.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESTed is a high school student hoping to win Audrey’s love by giving her the one thing she most desires: a real tree. But in the industrialized city of Thneedville, trees disappeared long ago, and no one remembers why.
With help from his grandmother, Ted escapes the city and searches for the Once-ler, who can tell him what happened to the trees—and about the Lorax, the guardian of the forest.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an enjoyable but uneven family film. It is colorful, creative, and filled with fun music. The cute teddy bear friends the Once-ler makes should especially delight younger viewers.
The movie’s story becomes fragmented, frenetic, and boring in the middle. The final act is exciting, and the film closes on a positive note of friendship and reconciliation. Overall, it offers a fun-filled ride that does not sustain its momentum all the way through.
The Worldview
The film presents a mixed worldview. It strongly promotes environmentalism and portrays individual capitalism and free enterprise as bad. Its story suggests that the desire to make money or become an entrepreneur will inevitably destroy the planet. Businessmen are portrayed as inherently evil figures who control society financially and politically in a policed, fascist-like state.
At the same time, the movie contains some anti-totalitarian content and moral ideas worth recognizing. It praises friendship, peace, caring for others, stewardship of creation, and the possibility of a fresh start. Its environmental concern aligns with the biblical call to care for what God has made, even though its political conclusions go beyond that biblical responsibility.
The family relationships are also presented as dysfunctional. Ted’s father is absent, his mother is portrayed as crazy, and his grandmother uses trickery and deception to solve a problem. In the parallel story, the Once-ler’s parents do not know how to love him, and his mother says she always knew he would be a disappointment.
Scripture gives a clear responsibility without condemning honest work or enterprise: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Mixed pagan worldview with strong politically correct environmentalist content that’s also anti-capitalist but some anti-totalitarian content and some moral content extolling friendship, peace, the idea of being a steward over Creation, and caring about others; and, absent father, crazy mother, grandmother uses trickery and deception to solve a plot problem, dysfunctional family dynamics.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film says creation should not be taken for granted. What does it mean to care for the world God made without treating environmental concerns as a substitute for faithfulness to God?
Genesis 2:15 · Psalm 24:1The story presents business and entrepreneurship as destructive. What is the difference between using work selfishly and using work responsibly to serve others?
Colossians 3:23–24 · 1 Timothy 6:17–19Several families in the film struggle with absence, deception, or a lack of love. What makes a home faithful and trustworthy?
Ephesians 4:25 · Colossians 3:19–21The movie ends by affirming friendship and reconciliation. What does genuine reconciliation require?
Romans 12:18 · 2 Corinthians 5:18–19The Final Word
This colorful, musical adaptation has a worthwhile concern for creation and a hopeful affirmation of friendship. But its strongly political message and troubled family dynamics make it better for guided viewing than an unexamined family outing. Our answer is WAIT FOR HOME.
