I have a soft spot for Horton and his concern for the little Whos

So I’m pulling for big box office for the Horton Hears a Who movie. I would like somebody to find an actor other than Jim Carrey to play in these things, but hearing him isn’t nearly as painful as watching him on screen. (Eternal Sunshine notwithstanding.) Having Steve Carell appearing in Horton is redeeming, I have to admit.

From our L.A. Times:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-projector14mar14,1,3146990.story

‘Horton’ is poised for an elephant-size weekend

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Blue Sky Studios / AP

“Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!,” which goes ultra-wide at 3,954 theaters riding respectable reviews, will easily be No. 1 and could haul in ticket sales of $55 million or more.

Aggressive marketing is expected to pay off for Fox’s animated film.

By Josh Friedman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 14, 2008

Even if nobody goes to see it at all, a movie is a movie no matter how small.

Of course, that won’t be an issue for 20th Century Fox’s “Horton Hears a Who!” the latest big-budget comedy based on the classic children’s stories of Dr. Seuss. The G-rated animated film, whose voice cast includes Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett and Seth Rogen, opens today with an elephant-size weekend in store.

“Horton,” which goes ultra-wide at 3,954 theaters riding respectable reviews, is expected to easily be No. 1 and could haul in ticket sales of $55 million or more.

“Doomsday” and “Never Back Down” — neither of which is a political documentary about Eliot Spitzer — also open today across the U.S. and Canada, but both action dramas appear headed for grosses in the mid- to high-single digits.

“Horton,” computer animated by Fox’s Blue Sky Studios team, cost about $90 million to make, not counting the tens of millions in prints and advertising, so it represents a hefty gamble. Fortunately for Fox, its aggressive marketing campaign appears to be paying off. Paul