Caffeinated Clint
“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.
Dakota Fanning, Essie Davis, Beau Bridges, Kevin Anderson and the voices of Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi , John Cleese , Cedric the Entertainer , Kathy Bates , Oprah Winfrey , Thomas Hayden Church, Reba McEntire, Andre Benjamin, Robert Redford, Dominic Scott Kay
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 could 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.
Much like the movie, the “Charlotte’s Web” DVD is aimed at kids. There’s some deleted scenes and bloopers; a storyboard creator feature for the kids; a music video; and a couple of featurettes.
Rating : 
Reviewer : Clint Morris
