The Lorax

The movie starts off with Ted Wiggins, a 12-year-old boy who lives in Thneedville. However, Thneedville isn’t like any other city: it is completely walled and everything is artificial; there are no living plants. Audrey is an environmentalist, and Ted has the biggest crush on her. So, in order to impress her, he wants to get a tree. After asking his Grammy Norma (who freakishly knows everything), he sets out to find the Once-ler, who knows what happened to all the trees. And find him, he does! The Once-ler (after some struggle) tells Ted his story. Many years ago, he was a young inventor, hoping to create a “thneed” and get famous. He travels for a long time before coming across a forest, proceeding to then cut down a Truffula tree. In a flash of thunder and lightning, the Lorax appears. The Once-ler is extremely confused and weirded out by the Lorax, but agrees to not chop down any more trees. However, when the thneed gains popularity and is in high demand, the Once-ler’s family pressures him into chopping down more trees, for they are greedy and desire money and power and fame. The entire forest soon becomes polluted and, not long after, the last tree gets chopped down. All the animals have to leave because they can no longer survive in what’s left of the forest, and the Once-ler is alone. When he finishes his tale, he gives Ted the very last Truffula seed and tells him to go plant it in the middle of town. With the help of his family and Audrey, who explains to the townspeople why trees are important, they succeed. The movie ends with the Once-ler reuniting with the Lorax, leaving viewers with a satisfying ending.