Sometimes You Should Just Read the Book

On Christmas Eve we took the children to see The Tale of Despereaux.  We had read several reviews advising folks to skip it, but we very often do not trust reviewers.  Usually we read reviews just to ferret out objectionable material in films.  While the animation and visuals were fantastic, the moral of the story was true and good, and there was absolutely nothing objectionable in the film, we cannot recommend seeing it.  The plot is plodding, disjointed, and never does come to a crescendo nor does it ever quite come together. There were too many sub-plots that did not add to the film and never gelled the way they do in the book. Our older girls have read the book and are fans of Kate DiCamillo.  They were looking forward to seeing this tale come to the big screen. They were sorely disappointed.

As we exited the theater, our eleven year old commented to one of her siblings, "I almost fell asleep!"  Not what one wants to hear after laying down $60 to see a movie with one's family!