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I LOVE DR. SEUSS. (Ok, now that everyone knows the obvious, on to the review.)

Horton Hears a Who is the animated cinematic adaptation of Dr. Seuss' universally loved book about an elephant who believes people are people, no matter how small. With the exception of the actor who plays the main character, Horton Hears a Who is a touching film with real heart.

While teaching his small jungle students on day, Horton (Jim Carrey) hears what can best be explained as a small voice floating through the air. He realizes it is coming from a speck, at the mercy of the wind. With great care Horton catches the speck on a clover. With a little ingenuity, Horton is able to communicate with the mayor of the Whos, the people on the speck. When the crusty know it all Kangaroo (Carol Burnett) finds out about Horton's "discovery" she is quick to insult and berate him. Undeterred, Horton sets off on a quest to save the people on the speck from his world.

Writers Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul, wrote Horton a quirky sincerity that is both tender and humorous. Jim Carrey takes that sincerity and puts it through a cheese grinder. His performance was noticeably unnatural and often pathetic. He and his dialogue seem to be constant tug of war over Horton. The animators didn't do anything to solve the problem, often wavering between the directors' and Carrey's Horton with animation that sometimes feel like it is based on a Carrey expression and sometimes completely absent of his influence. I started to loathe when Horton was talking.

When the visuals, writing and acting work against each other, there is only the director to blame, without question. The directors, Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino , are responsible for the continuity of his film. Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino better show up for their noodle-lashing because their inability to properly direct this aspect of the film seriously damages the feeling of the movie.

The supporting cast of Horton Hears a Who far outshines the main character. Flawless, sparkling performances by Steve Carell as the Mayor of Whoville and Carol Burnett as the cantankerous Kangaroo put a thespian shine on this story. Carell was Whotastic as he gives such believable life to such a unbelievable looking character. Carol Burnett really gives Kangaroo a creepy essence but doesn't make her too frightening for small children nor too simplistic or annoying for the adults in the audience.

The animation in Horton Hears a Who is so crisp, clear and beautiful it made me

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