By Ron Magid, Special to The Times

Listen. Is that really a Who that Horton hears, or is it the collective sigh of relief from audiences tired of the painfully earthbound sight of actors in funny suits trying to re-create the outlandish characters of Dr. Seuss on screen?

"Horton Hears a Who" proves that much like the elephant himself, animators, too, can be faithful, 100% -- even if that means losing sight of megastars Jim Carrey and Steve Carell underneath their 3-D animated alter egos (Horton and the mayor of Whoville, respectively). Though 20th Century Fox may have been concerned that the animated characters resembled Seuss' beloved drawings rather than its A-list performers, the studio deferred to directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino. After all, does anyone really want to see "Carrey Hears a Carell"?