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Charlotte's Web |
 Language: English
Directed by : Gary Winick
Writing credits (WGA) : Susannah Grant (screenplay) and Karey
Kirkpatrick (screenplay)
Voice: Julia Roberts for Charlotte the Spider , Steve Buscemi
for Templeton the Rat , John Cleese for Samuel the Sheep , Oprah
Winfrey for Gussy the Goose
Runtime: 97 min
Sound Mix: DTS / SDDS / Dolby Digital
Review: As family features go, Charlotte's Web may be the
best we have seen in a while. Technically adept and surprisingly
affecting, the movie translates E.B. White's children's book into a
motion picture that will enthrall children and engage their parents.
The animals come to life with enough credibility that it's not out
of the question that a few tears may be shed for a CGI creature.
Strangely, even with plucky Dakota Fanning fronting for the human
actors, the film loses some of its magic when it moves outside of
the barn. Comparisons to Babe are expected and warranted, but one
thing missing form this story is James Cromwell.
Since its 1952 publication, Charlotte's Web has been a children's
favorite. It rests on many bookshelves alongside White's other books
(which include Stuart Little). The 1973 release of an animated
version widened the appeal of Charlotte, Wilbur, and Fern. This new
movie is an attempt to bring the story to today's audiences. Perhaps
those who enjoy the movie will seek out the book. Charlotte's Web
isn't as popular as it was decades ago because reading had taken a
back seat to the many other distractions available to children.
On the night of his birth, runt of the litter Wilbur (voice of
Dominic Scott Kay) is saved from the ax by Fern (Dakota Fanning),
who promises to keep the newly born pig safe. When Wilbur becomes
too large to keep as a pet, she sells him to her uncle, who owns a
barn across the street. He's close enough that she can visit him
every day, but Fern isn't aware that Wilbur's ultimate destination
is the smokehouse so he can be ready to be served for dinner on
Christmas Day. In the barn, Wilbur becomes acquainted with the other
residents: Templeton the rat (voice of Steve Buscemi), Samuel the
sheep (voice of John Cleese), Ike the horse (Robert Redford), and
Gussy and Golly the geese (voices of Oprah Winfrey and Cedric the
Entertainer). While these animals are stand-offish, there is one
creature in the barn who makes friends with the lonely pig:
Charlotte the spider (voice of Julia Roberts). Her efforts in
particular will be vital in keeping Wilbur alive long enough to see
the winter snows. Her idea: convince the farmers that their new pig
is too valuable to be used as pork.
The CGI animals are rendered with such care that many viewers will
swear they're real creatures. (In fact, they sometimes are, but
figuring out where the computer animators become involved is a
perplexing proposition. That's how good the finished product is.)
Charlotte is a curious mix of the creepy and the comforting. She
looks like a spider, but the close-ups of her face soften the
negative impressions many have when dealing with arachnids, and the
soothing, familiar tones of Julia Roberts' voice further humanize
Charlotte. A great deal of care was taken in making sure children
wouldn't be made uneasy by the spider while still allowing her to be
recognizable as what she is. Most of the other animals appear as
they are.
In playing Fern, the talented Fanning is given a thankless job, and
the lackluster actors around her don't provide much support. The
people in this movie are far less developed than their animal
counterparts, and the only time when Fern comes alive is when she's
with her pig. Attempts to broaden her character by giving her a
quasi-boyfriend and building up her family don't work. Ultimately,
we only care about Fern as she relates to Wilbur, and that means
being his #1 human supporter when it comes to keeping him out of the
smoke house.
Usage of computer animation to effectively blend animals and people
hasn't been done with any regularity, possibly because the penalties
for failure are dire. The most notable examples of this working are
the aforementioned Babe and its sequel but, with Charlotte's Web,
director Gary Winick nails the accomplishment and the result is
pleasant to watch. Charlotte's Web has all the requisite elements
that a family film needs to succeed and endure: humor, drama,
pathos, and an emotionally satisfying ending. Despite its flaws,
none of which are burdensome, Charlotte's Web deserves to thrive
both now in theaters and in the years to come on DVD.
Keywords:
Charlotte's Web
, Julia Roberts
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