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This Antagonist was Headlined on September 1st, 2023. | ||
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| “ | You listen to me, boy! Don't go poking around in things you don't understand, or I'll be your worst nightmare! I'm Frankenstein's head on a spider's body!! | „ |
| ~ O'Hare. |
Mayor Aloysius O'Hare is the main antagonist of Illumination's 3rd feature film The Lorax, an adaptation of Dr. Seuss' 1971 book of the same name.
He is the greedy and manipulative mayor of Thneedville, the founder of O'Hare Air, Morty and McGurk's boss and Ted Wiggins' arch-nemesis. Since The Once-Ler cut down all truffula trees, O'Hare has made a business by selling bottled fresh air, but when Ted Wiggins attempts to find a way to restore truffula trees, O'Hare decides to prevent him from doing that in order to save his business.
He was voiced by Rob Riggle, who also played Bela in Hotel Transylvania 2, Mr. Walters in 21 Jump Street, Carl in Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, Travis and Captain Lippencott in Dumb and Dumber To, Mr. Dickers in Victorious, and Greg in Big Hero 6: The Series.
History[]
Beginnings[]
O'Hare as a teenager.
As a teenager, Aloysius O'Hare got his money-making idea when he saw one of the billboard workers coughing on smog while wondering who will make "the next million dollar invention" after The Once-Ler's thneed factory had to shut down for good.
The Lorax[]
O'Hare in the present.
Years later, O'Hare made a fortune selling oxygen tanks for a machine that he designed to keep the otherwise smoggy air fresh for Thneedville residents, but in order to sell what people used to get for free, O'Hare's air company went to great lengths to keep the locals from leaving town to prevent them from discovering an alternative (planting trees) to his bottled air. Because of this, Ted made an enemy out of the so-called "elected hero".
O'Hare threatening Ted.
When Ted spoke for the trees (as though a part of the Lorax was within him) by tearing down the walls of the town to reveal the truth and showing the last tree seed as a start of many much-needed changes for the all-artificial town of Thneedville, O'Hare tried in vain to get the citizens on his own side, revealing his true nature in the process by threatening to fire his delivery man named Cy if he does not get the people on his side. Eventually, Mr. O'Hare himself sings along with them, seemingly planning on redeeming himself but he immediately changes his mind saying that the seed should shrivel up and die and asking who's on his side. No one sides with O'Hare and his two bodyguards named Morty and McGurk are no longer loyal to him; they put a jet helmet on him that sends him flying away leading to his fate unknown.
Personality[]
O'Hare is a greedy, obnoxious, argumentative, and egotistical businessman who typically hates plants and trees, because (according to him) they are a threat to his air business. He is also shown to have the demeanor of an obstreperous mob member, and he also talks about his business like he was running a monopoly (granted he is, but anyone gets the point). He is also extremely disrespectful and abusive towards his bodyguards and others.
He is very creepy and has no sense of personal space, touching Ted multiple times on the chest and forcibly wrapping his arm round him (as if suffocating him) and dragging him to a window at one point. He is also shown to be a housebreaker, as he forcibly breaks into people's houses and disregards privacy, even demanding to be allowed into Ted’s room due to him believing he had tree seeds hidden inside, using his bodyguards as leverage to get what he wants. One of his most outrageous and contemptible plans is when he supposedly destroys plants, trees and seeds.
Appearance[]
O'Hare has shoulder length black hair and is rather short himself, although he is idolized by the citizens. He also has thick black eyebrows. He also has green eyes. He wears a silver suit, a sky blue shirt a light gray necktie, a black belt and black shoes.
Reception[]
Aloysius O'Hare
Aloysius O'Hare has received mostly negative reception from film critics. They say that the character is only in the movie to add more material and dramatic tension to Ted's story, something that the original book didn't have (just ending with the Once-Ler giving Ted the last Truffula seed in hopes that he may restore nature). Critics also say that he is a stereotypical evil businessman, wanting to stop Ted for bringing back the trees that he claimed will threaten his business.
He didn't have much screen time for him to develop as a character, only serve as a one-dimensional useless villain. Many also say that the Once-Ler's family should've been the villains of the movie, as they have more connection to the story and they could have been the business owners of Thneedville.
Despite the negative reception for the character, Aloysius O'Hare does have minor redeeming qualities out-of-universe. Many fans and critics say that Rob Riggle did a decent job voicing the character and that O'Hare has said some memorable lines, which some had become Internet memes, specifically the scene in which he says that in regard to the last Truffula seed, that they should "let it die".
Quotes[]
| “ | So in other words, the more smog in the sky... the more people will buy! | „ |
| ~ O'Hare to his employees. |
| “ | What? Why is he leaving town? No one ever leaves town! See what's he up to. | „ |
| ~ O'Hare caught Ted trying to leave Thneedville. |
| “ | I know you have it Ted, so let's put an end to this nonsense, shall we? Hand it over! (Ted: I'm sorry. I, I don't know what you're talking about.) Really? Well then, I guess you wouldn't mind us checking your room! | „ |
| ~ O'Hare demanding Ted to give him the seed. |
| “ | You won't get away with this, boy!! | „ |
| ~ O'Hare pursuing Ted. |
| “ | Nobody beats Aloysius O-hah! Damn it! | „ |
| ~ O'Hare fails to stop Ted. |
| “ | Folks, the last thing you want around here is trees. They're filthy! Spewing that sticky, nasty sap all over the place! They bring poisonous ants, and stinging bees! Ouch, think about the kids. And, huh, huh, I just thought, you know they, they make leaves! I did, you know that right? Then these leaves, they just fall, they just fall wherever they want! (Audrey: Come on, we know why you're really against trees, because they produce fresh air,) (Ted: For free!) I am wounded! You have lied! (Audrey: It is not a lie! It is called photosynthesis!) Come on! She's making that up! That's a made-up word, people! Thneedville is perfect just the way it is! We don't need trees! That boy has a seed, we need to stop him! Who's with me? Come on! | „ |
| ~ O'Hare dissuading the townspeople that they need trees and turning them against Ted. |
Trivia[]
- His last name might be a reference to one of the film's storyboard artists, Mark O'Hare. "O'Hare" also happens to be the last name of another Illumination Pictures character, Fredrick O'Hare; the main protagonist from Hop, a year before The Lorax. Although, it can be more likely a reference to air, as he sells it to the people of Thneedville.
- O’Hare can be considered a foil to the Lorax, as the fact that they are both dwarfs who are concentrated on nature, through the Lorax is a mustached, protective, giving, selfless, caring mystical creature, guardian and speaker of nature who was trying to save the Truffula trees for the good of nature. For O'Hare, on the other hand, he’s an un-mustached, destructive, greedy, selfish, careless ordinary human being and businessman, polluter and mayor who was manipulating the citizens of Thneedville to buy more of his air to have more money for himself.
- Including, symbolically, after the Lorax failed to save the forest, he picked himself up and rose away into the sky. As for O’Hare, after his defeat, his henchman Morty and McGurk put his jet pack-like helmet on his head and they launched him into the sky, like the Lorax. Then the Lorax returned after the forest began to be restored. It represented that, ironically, that the people rejected O’Hare’s ideas (pollution) for the Lorax’s (nature).
- In addition, O'Hare is a darker reflection of The Once-Ler: both were corrupt corporate executives whose products were harmful to the environment. However, the Once-Ler realized the harm he had done when he was forced to shut down his company because he ran out of Truffula trees to cut down, he also wished to reform himself by making Ted plant the last Truffula tree to atone for his crimes. O'Hare, on the other hand, failed to see the error of his ways and let his greed be his downfall after all of Thneedville turned against him for his crimes against the environment. Thus, O'Hare serves as an example of what The Once-Ler would have become if he had not seen the error of his ways and instead continue to pollute the environment for his profit.
- O’Hare listed as "Mr. O'Hare" in the credits.
- His government can be described as a combination of capitalism and socialism under an authoritarian dictatorship as his corporation is state owned and he wants to destroy all seeds.
- Some have actually argued his company saved Thneedville from the destruction caused by the Once-Ler and his family.
- Before Rob Riggle was selected to voice Aloysius; the late Robin Williams, the late Alan Rickman, Peter Dinklage, Patton Oswalt, Harry Shearer, Alan Tudyk, Chris Kattan, Johnny Knoxville, Owen Wilson and Jesse Eisenberg were considered for the role.
- He’s the first main villain in an Illumination film not to be physically fought.
- O’Hare is the only Dr. Seuss villain to use profanity, possibly saying "damn it".
- Even though it’s stated up above that O’Hare is the Mayor of Thneedville, this was never said in the film, though Mrs. Wiggins did at one point refer to him as the most powerful man in the city.
- O’Hare is the first animated character to be voiced by Rob Riggle.
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Animated Features Live-Action Features Animated Television Live-Action Television Video Games See Also | ||
 Villains
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Stories Movie | ||
 Villains
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Thneed company The Once-ler's Family O'Hare Air | ||