Charlotte's Web / Jeremy C. Fox
Every critic has his kryptonite. For some, it’s an earnest, paternal Will Smith; for others, it’s a towheaded tyke with an unusually close relationship with a pet. Since I more or less wrote Smith off after the vile Independence Day but have occasionally embarrassed my little sister by weeping at a showing of, say, Because of Winn-Dixie, I guess it’s clear where my weakness lies. And while any precocious youngster has a fair shot at tapping my hidden vein of sappiness, I must confess that little Dakota Fanning is more adept at it than most. Fanning’s ubiquity and uncannily adult mien have given rise to a fair amount of backlash — some of it promulgated on this very site — but I, for one, remain fully in her thrall. Hollywood has seen plenty of knowing women in little girls’ bodies, from the coquettish Shirley Temple to the cynical, seen-it-all young Jodie Foster, but Fanning is a sui generis phenomenon, seemingly wise and thoughtful beyond her years while maintaining the innocence, simplicity, and clear-eyed ethical consistency of a very, very good little girl. She and her handlers may rule Hollywood with an iron fist, demanding right of first refusal on every worthwhile prepubescent role in town, but I personally wouldn’t have it any other way.
In Charlotte’s Web, Fanning has nabbed the human lead, the role of Fern, a farm girl whose innate sense of social justice drives her to rescue a baby pig, the runt of the litter, who would otherwise be put to death by Fern’s father for the good of his 10 littermates. With more than 45 million copies sold, anyone who grew up in the last half-century has probably read E.B. White’s book or heard it read aloud, so there’s little point in detailing the plot. Suffice it to say that the pig, whom Fern names Wilbur, winds up living on a neighboring farm whose owner has plans for him — plans of a culinary nature — until a kindly spider named Charlotte devises a series of schemes to convince the farmer that Wilbur is no ordinary pig and should be spared the ax once again.
White’s sweet fable about friendship and self-sacrifice was among my favorite books as a child, but looking at it again now, in director Gary Winick’s mostly faithful adaptation, it’s a surprisingly lopsided tale. The unavoidable comparison is to Chris Noonan’s Babe, the 1995 film (undoubtedly influenced by Charlotte’s Web) about a pig spared the slaughterhouse due to his unusual and useful ability to herd sheep. Babe is a pig who earns his life and his keep through determination, perseverance, and hard work; Wilbur, by contrast, deserves to live because he is kind, so very kind that he inspires others to act on his behalf. Kindness, of course, is a virtue all too often undervalued, and one that small children probably should be reminded of as often as possible. Still, for dramatic purposes, it creates an imbalance: Wilbur’s is the life at stake, yet he passively waits for Charlotte and the barn rat Templeton to find a way to save it.
Despite this nagging flaw, you’d have to be pretty heartless not to hope they succeed. As voiced by 10-year-old Dominic Scott Kay, Wilbur has a guileless decency that recalls Christopher Shea, the little boy who voiced Linus in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and who, like Fanning at her best, invariably reduces me to tears with his climactic speech about the true meaning of Christmas. Kay, unfortunately, is one of the few voice actors in the film whose performance adds any real resonance to the story. Julia Roberts’ turn as Charlotte is one of those uninspired, I’m-doing-this- for-my-kids performances that sounds very much as if she’s reading directly from the script, quite possibly for the first and only time, and most of the other stars assaying animal roles (Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, et al.) provide no more than a hint of familiarity and some occasional comic relief.
Still, Winick does much to capture the wonder and whimsy of White’s book, creating a simpler world in an undefined past where both small creatures and small touches matter. The film’s rural setting has the magic realist quality of a Grant Wood landscape, and its human characters, though sometimes dense and often credulous, aren’t stupid; they’re just decent, unsophisticated folk trying to live their lives the best they can. Though the quality of the computer animation is highly variable, the movie gets the important things right, making Charlotte’s web-spinning a glittery, gorgeous feat and Templeton’s adventures gathering his cast-off treasures both gently amusing and just a little bit disgusting (perhaps as a sop to the little boys in the audience). Winick’s work here — and the work of the animators — is sure, but he muffs the film’s climax by playing up the suspense rather than the pathos, and this imbalance affects the remainder of the film, so that the epilogue feels tacked-on and insignificant.
Really though, the film’s success hinges on how we feel about the protagonists and whether we come to care about Wilbur’s fate, and of these achievements there can be no doubt. As Fern, Fanning is steely and intractable, yet she never seems like a brat; she’s just more sensible and thoughtful than all the adults around her. And the baby pigs that play Wilbur seem — with the help of Kay’s vocal performance — not just cute but warm, vulnerable, and ultimately quite human. We see why Charlotte wants so badly for Wilbur to live to see his first snowfall, and we share in her hopes. If Fast Food Nation didn’t make you a vegetarian, this one just might do the trick.
Jeremy C. Fox is a founding critic of Pajiba and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.You may email him at jeremycfox[at]gmail.com.
Pajiba Love 12/15/06 | | Eragon
Comments
I wasn't planning on seeing this. I prefer "Babe". The book is great, as is the first film, but I am Dakota Fanning'd out. She's a great aspiring actress, but she's in EVERYTHING these days. To me, she's TOO experienced and too mature for the role of Fern.
I also think Julia Roberts was miscast, and definitely did this for her kids. I don't know who I would've cast for Charlotte, but not Julia.
Posted by: Brie at December 16, 2006 3:51 PM
My problem with Dakota Fanning is the same as my problem with Julia Roberts. They never act. Watching them on screen is like watching them in an interview, they more or less just say the lines, without bothering to try to flesh out any kind of character. To see either one in a film is, for me at least, to think "Oh look. I'm watching Julia Roberts/Dakota Fanning again." I have yet to see either one play a real person rather than playing "sweet" or "funny", but I'm pretty sure that the fault doesn't lie with every single director and screenwriter they have ever worked with. The problem is just the actresses themselves.
Oh, and I hated the movie. Sorry. I've become too cynical in my old age for this to work anymore.
Posted by: Kiki at December 16, 2006 4:21 PM
It's impossible for me to slam little Dakota, she's done more in her few short years than many will do in a lifetime. It will serve her well to take a few years, get a degree (or whatever)and see the world from a non-hollywood perspective.
On another note, this story didn't need revisiting.
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at December 16, 2006 8:18 PM
I have three words for Dakota Fanning: Haley Joel Osmont.
I prefer Babe also, although I do have warm memories both of the White original and the old (1970s?) animated movie. I may give in and watch this with my daughter when it comes out on video...
Posted by: Armando at December 16, 2006 8:36 PM
Aw...I thought Dakota was reasonably adept in "War of the Worlds"...although I am kind of looking foward to seeing how she turns out in the future. Will she be a Lindsay Lohan? Hmmm...
Posted by: Leanne at December 16, 2006 9:36 PM
Dakota seems way too smart to become a Lindsay Lohan. She's the one kid actress (aside from Anna Sophia Robb) that seems to have a good head on her shoulders.
Posted by: Lola at December 16, 2006 10:35 PM
You might be the first man in the history of men to take his little sister to the movies and start crying in front of her. It's official, you are a whack job.
Posted by: Bobby at December 17, 2006 10:20 AM
I love(d) this book so much - it was the first "real" book I ever read - that I can't bear to see this movie. The heart of it, Fern and Wilbur, seem all right, and I think Steve Buscemi as Templeton is genius. But Julia Roberts? Cedric the Entertainer? Some friggin' doo-wop crows? Why are you ruining my childhood, Hollywood?
Posted by: Sarah at December 17, 2006 11:46 AM
sarah, hollywierd,f`s up pretty much anything decent and humble. the simpler times are OVER
Posted by: pasadenamike at December 17, 2006 2:13 PM
I secretly wished they wouldn't make a hollywood film out of Charlotte's Web, but being that the studios are at a loss for ideas, they needed to bleed this cash "pig" for what it's worth (no pun intended). The cartoon they made for Charlotte's Web in the 80s was beautiful and poignant, if you haven't seen it by now you should. That motivated me to read the book when I was 10 or 11 years old basically. The book and cartoon film are magical...and the woman who did the voice for Charlotte was comforting and soothing. For me, the book is like a warm cup of soup and piece of bread on a cold winter's day. Yes I know it's cheezy, but what can I say...the legacy of the book makes you wish for simpler times that just don't exist anymore...
Posted by: Gina at December 17, 2006 3:04 PM
I saw the animated Charlotte's Web film when I was four or five at my grandmother's house having never heard of it before-- and then my mom read the book to me that summer on a road trip to North Carolina. To put it simply, the whole idea of Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, and OutKast crows are fucking up some of my best childhood memories. I will not be seeing this.
Posted by: Genevieve at December 17, 2006 4:48 PM
I strongly agree with previous commenters: The animated Charlotte's Web was gorgeous. Like the great animated Grinch, it had no need of being re-made into a live action film.
Posted by: Lily at December 17, 2006 6:37 PM
I wholeheartedly agree with Genevieve and Lily.
Posted by: G40 at December 17, 2006 7:39 PM
I've absolutely loved this book since the first time I read it. Having only seen the movie poster, I knew there was no way in h-e-double-hockey sticks I'd ever see it.
I think something about the idea of Hollywood needing to turn everything into a movie just completely rubbed me the wrong way.
Oh, and for me, the inclusion of Dakota Fanning and Oprah Winfrey just makes me itch.
Posted by: Alex at December 17, 2006 9:17 PM
Have to comment again. Sorry, I loved the book wholeheartedly, but I hate the '80s cartoon.
Posted by: Sarah at December 17, 2006 9:33 PM
I've always thought Charlotte should be (sound) aristocratic. Annette Bening, perhaps, or Joanne Woodward.
Posted by: tommytimp at December 17, 2006 10:48 PM
I last saw Julia Roberts (last time for a long time I hope) on the Clooney roast being truly offensive in her fakeness. That is one famous shrew whose inevitable plunge into has-been desperation will be a joy to watch. Any time I see a Meg Ryan flick and realize that she was never nominated for anything her whole reign of the 90's, or that Michelle Pfeiffer got nods but no wins, and Roberts actually has an Oscar on her mantlepiece makes me cringe everytime. Poor Dakota: I hope she didn't have to have any encounters with this icky witch during filming.
Posted by: Matt at December 17, 2006 11:29 PM
Buscemi as Templeton was a good call, but Paul Lynde owns that role forever.
I will also admit that I like Dakota. She is creepily adult at times, but I still think she may turn out ok. I'm hoping that she will be among the first female actresses NOT to take the obligatory role as a prostitute.
Sheesh, even Reese Witherspoon did that (granted, she was awesome). It's the worst kind of cliche and should only be done by boring, overrated horse-faced nitwits like Julia Roberts
Posted by: imk at December 18, 2006 11:11 AM
That'll do, pig."
"Screw you, cockroach!"
"Got to find your dick first, Shamu."
I love The Replacements. Anyway, this movie will probably pull at the heartstrings like all sappy movies invariably do. I won't like the inclusion of Dakota "I Don't Blink" Fanning, but I can handle the fact that Julia Roberts makes a personal appearance (there are horses right? If there are also note that she was uncredited along with Sarah Jessica Parker.) although, I agree with tommytimp in that Charlotte should have been voiced by someone with more...I don't know...class?
Posted by: ScarletKnight at December 18, 2006 7:46 PM
Gina,
Debbie Reynolds was Charlottte's voice in that 1973 version. I don't care who does Templeton, he is one of the great anti heros in all of literature.
Posted by: Krans at December 18, 2006 9:17 PM
First let me say this...
I read and LOVED the book. I saw and LOVED the animated feature when I was a kid.
I saw this last night...and LOVED it. I have to say that it is one of the BEST adaptations (though it's adapted from an adaptation) of a book to film in a long time. My girlfriend couldn't stop her eyes from being glazed over with tears for about the last 5 minutes of the movie and 2 or 3 times during the film before that. Even I felt myself doing the whole 'STARE at the screen so your eyes can dry a little bit' thing at the end. It did what good films try to do and great films do successfully...it took me INTO the story. Like I said...i know the source material. I knew what was going to happen...and it still hit me. It made me remember when i was a kid and things like having a pet, could be THAT simple. It remeinded me of every friend I've ever had. It reminded me why I love my girlfriend and my family. And it made me hope that if they ever adapt any other books from my childhood (Cricket in Times Square, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, etc...) that they do just as well. Consdering te previews I've seen for Bridge to Teribithia it looks like I'll break even because that looks like they took the idea of the book and focused more on how much digital animation they could fit in...I'm rambling. Anyhow...I recommend it. See it as a matinee cuz it seemed like the perfect time. Right after an early dinner. AND TO GENEVIEVE and anyone else...Andre Benjamin and Thomas Hayden Church as the crows are the right touch of humor to smile. I felt like a kid again...go ahead flamers. Flame away.
Posted by: Se it first... at December 19, 2006 12:06 PM
This is quite possibly one of the best childhood stories of all time. The book and the original cartoon were enough to make me fall in love. I was even in a community theatre version of the book, where I played the "Old Sheep."...
...then I slept with "The Goose" in the orchestra pit, and that, like this giant studio template version of the book, ruined the experience for me.
Rule of thumb...keep it simple and when something ain't broke, don't attempt to fix it. The big names in this movie killed this story for me....as well as the morning after test I had to take after the orchestra pit fiasco....
Posted by: Helcat at December 19, 2006 12:56 PM
You do know that 'Babe' was the (Americanised) movie version of 'The Sheep Pig', by Dick King-Smith? One of the best children's books ever. Read it to your kids, and if you can get through the final chapter without completely breaking down, let me know how it's done.
Posted by: Embertine at December 20, 2006 3:48 AM
what's with all the posted ads in the comments section? are those allowed to be here?
Posted by: giraffespots at December 21, 2006 1:38 AM
I may see this, as I'm a sucker for the little kid/ animal yarns myself.
This review has reminded me of the Babe films, inexplicably missing from my DVD shelf. How good were those movies!? I wish Babe:PITC was playing right now. The moment when the dog with the wheel cart dies and experiences dog heaven-just for a moment- make me tear up every single time. Also, Babe's rescuing of the pit bull. Tears coming at the memory. Viva Babe. Charlotte can only hope to be half as good.
Posted by: tom at December 22, 2006 2:28 AM
I watched the Charlotte's Web animated film a couple of years back when my little sister was watching it.
I cried at the end. I've only ever cried in four other films- LOTR:ROTK (Too damn happy at the end), Million Dollar Baby (For like the two hours it took to finish), Moulin Rouge (I'm a female teenager) and AI (I was drunk). And I cried in Charlotte's web. I'm taking child to see this and if I don't cry I'm suing Hollywood.
Posted by: Julia at December 22, 2006 5:55 PM
Why are a bunch of folks who didn't see the movie telling us what was wrong with the movie?
I saw it. I'm not a fan of Julia Roberts and if I wanted to truly waste my time I would try to dream up someone who would have been more suited to voice Charlotte...she was just fine. Also, I have never seen a Dakota Fanning movie I cared for, still I think she is sweet and adorable, and she was perfect as Fern!
The movie was not perfect. It was very worth seeing and to be realistic, no matter what you think of this movie version of your beloved children's book, it can't ruin that book or your memories of it.
Posted by: Scott at December 23, 2006 11:22 AM
so rosie o donnell is in this piece of shit also,
Posted by: pasdenamike at December 24, 2006 12:39 AM
Thomas Haden Church = Movie Killer.
As one of the crows, no less.
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Posted by: cardgames at February 15, 2007 12:36 AM
Just saw this at the dollar theater (well $3.50 theater) with the six year old boy. I knew Julia and Dakota were in it, and I recognized Buscemi immediately, but I had no idea the other Names were in it until coming back and reading this review. The movie had its flaws for sure (is it a statutory requirement to have fart jokes in every kid's movie nowadays?), but I didn't feel it was given an overly Hollywood treatment/desecration. Definitely a good flick to take the kiddies to, if only for its gentle but honest treatment of the realities of death.
Postscript: I saw Julia's Oscar "interview" with George Clooney last night on the Oprah special - it's amazing how much she looks like Charlotte. Wait, not amazing. Scary.
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