Horton Hears a Who!

The producers of "Ice Age" go the digital animation route for the latest feature-length version of a Dr. Seuss classic, with Jim Carrey voicing the gentle elephant who hears voices from a dust speck, and with Steve Carell as the Mayor of Whoville. "Though the story drags in a few points and is overly freighted with messages, Horton (a restrained Jim Carrey) remains the compelling character he was in the book," writes MSN's Cinemama. "What's more, the movie is full of sight gags that will amuse kids and adults alike, and the overall animation quality -- especially in the Whoville setting -- is terrific." The DVD features commentary by directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, and the new "Ice Age" cartoon short "Surviving Sid" (which is neither as manic nor as funny as the earlier Scrat shorts). The two-disc edition includes deleted scenes (mostly in storyboard form, a few partially animated, all with optional commentary) and animation tests and the usual collection of kid-friendly featurettes. The most fun is "Bringing the Characters to Life," an illustrative and entertaining guide to the art of animation acting. Also includes a digital copy of the film for portable media players.