Charlotte’s Web Review
by Clint Morris
The only thing that’s been sticking to Hollywood’s web in
recent years is the idea that epoch hardcover’s are the new go-to
blueprint for till ringing movie hits. Warner spun up a few million
with their Harry Potter
series, Dr Seuss’s kin had their college fees paid for by Ron Howard,
New Zealand’s motels are booked out most nights thanks to the film
adaptation of “Lord of the Rings”, and Universal had a few pound more
to play with on their theme park thanks to the incessant returns
of Babe. Like the latter, Charlotte’s Web
is based on a vintage children’s novel (in this case, by E.B White) and
more importantly, will – like “Babe” did - redirect the cabbage that
would normally fuel Hungry Jacks through the sale of Bacon Deluxe’s
back to the film’s production house. For those that have never read the original book, let alone seen the 70s animated film version, Web
fixes on a small pig, Wilbur (voiced by Dominic Scott Kay), who is
saved by Fern (Dakota Fanning) – whose father had decided the ‘runt of
the litter’ would be better served on a plate. As Wilbur moves into a
new barn, he begins a second weighty friendship with the most unlikely
of creatures--a spider named Charlotte (voiced by Julia Roberts)--and
their bond inspires the animals around them to come together as a
family. The thing with Paramount’s live-action film adaptation of Charlotte’s Web
isn’t so much that it’s pretty darn average, but more so the fact that
it’s as late as a pregnant woman’s crimson trickle. Considering the
beloved animated version was released before Splint Enz even had an
album, you’d think they could’ve had a film going of it a little
sooner? Say, sometime before they started making great quality family
films – ones like, Babe –
that did feature three solid acts? Kids have been so spoilt by such
family gems the last few years – with it be the hits of Pixar, the CGI
gems of Dreamworks, or the abovesaid Harry Potter pics – that Charlotte’s Web will probably engage them about as much as a radio special on Burt Bacharach. Sure,
those talking animals (with a who’s who of Hollywood providing their
voices) are quite well done, the Australian backdrop (it was filmed in
country Victoria) looks rather nice on film, and the storyline is a
sweet one – but there’s just not enough salsa on these corn chips. The
performances and character detail lack spice – Fanning is especially
under-utilised, you’ll forget she was even in it, but then again, you
don’t get to know a lot of the animals, who appear throughout the whole
film, much better – the screenplay lacks a solid middle act (it seems
in a rush to the finish line before the opening credits have even
rolled), and its very difficult to get emotionally invested in
something that you don’t feel much of a connection too (In the
screening I went to, the majority of the young audience were so
restless, so squirmy and so uninterested you’d think they’d been left
chained to the seats from an earlier session of Open Season). Sure, it’s a tad sad when you-know-who exits the picture, but only in a ‘Boo Hoo, Marisa got killed on The OC’ kind of way. Babe
had everything this film doesn’t – a great script, great characters,
real emotion, divine performances and animals you do get to know. If it
hadn’t been for its lavish production values and appreciably sweet
storyline, Charlotte may as well have ended up on the strawy end of the broom. Points for effort. Penalties for ineffectiveness. 2 out
of 5 Charlotte’s Web
Australian
release: 7th December,
2006
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, John Cleese, Steve Buscemi
Director: Gary Winick
Website: Click
here.
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