"The Lorax" hits theaters on Dr. Seuss' birthday

(CBS News) A new film adaption of the 1971 book, "The Lorax," hits theaters today, on the birthday  of its  author and illustrator..

 Dr. Seuss (born Theodor Seuss Geisel) would have turned 108 years old today. The celebrated writer died in 1991, but his classic stories, including "Cat in the Hat" and "Horton Hears a Who!," continue to inspire new generations both in book-form and on the big screen.

 "The Lorax"  stars the voices of Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms and Betty White. The animated adventure follows Seuss' story about a forest creature, the Lorax.

The critics' reviews are in, with film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes giving "The Lorax" a 52 percent score. Here's what some critics have to say:

The Washington Post gave "The Lorax" film one and a half stars, noting, "With its cotton-candy-colored palette of orange, pink and purple truffula trees, it looks like a bowl of fuzzy Froot Loops. But it goes down like an order of oatmeal. Sure, it's good for you. It's just not terribly good."

San Francisco Chronicle: "The whole thing is harmless. Most of the padding is sunny and funny and cute, from a trio of harmonizing fish to the spunky grandma voiced, inevitably, by Betty White. An appended romance between Ted and his crush (named Audrey after Geisel's widow and voiced by Taylor Swift) exists mainly to give the boy a decent hormonal motive in his quest to find a tree. It's perfectly sweet."

The Newark Star-Ledger: "At least, the real Dr. Seuss' 'The Lorax' had, well, Dr. Seuss, and his wonderful art. But this 'Dr. Seuss' The Lorax' eschews his unique style in favor of less risky, more generic characters. It looks like something you've seen before."

New York Post critic Kyle Smith gave it one star, writing, "I am the critic, I speak to displease: 'The Lorax' is awful, like chronic disease. There's no fun in 'The Lorax,' no joy in its theme; It's as boring as sales tax. I'm ready to ream. Its knickers are twisted so high and so tight It could lead the day's news on the Daily Kos site."

Tell us: Do you plan to see "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax"?