Considering Bridge to Terabithia comes from the same studio and production company behind The Chronicles of Narnia, I was surprised to discover that it wasn’t just some super-light fantasy fare. I never did read the book, and Disney’s marketing department tried hard to exploit the fantasy elements. It was easy to assume it would be just a kiddie fantasy film. I’m glad it wasn’t.
While this story of two kids with tender lives and wild imaginations isn’t a substantial work, it is definitely the solid, family-friendly product we can expect from Walden Media and Disney.
The film follows Jesse (Josh Hutcherson), the only boy in a large family that is having trouble making ends meet. His tough-loving father doesn’t care much for the frivolities of Jesse’s drawing hobby, especially when there are chores to be done around their rural home. Jesse, too, doesn’t see them as anything special until Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb) moves in down the road.
The two quickly form a friendship as they navigate the waters of middle school together. Leslie’s unique, creative take on life inspires Jesse to continue drawing, while the pair creates the imaginary world of Terabithia in the nearby forest. The bullies they face every day become villains, and they battle them together until tragedy abruptly tears them apart.
There is no actual bridge to Terabithia until the end of the film. Jesse builds it to get across the creek that separates the everyday world from his and Leslie's magical kingdom. In the final shot we get all the fantasy elements that are promised in the advertisement, but before that we have to go through a half-hour heavy on middle school pathos.
Because of that, I wouldn’t call Bridge to Terabithia a film the whole family can enjoy. It becomes overwrought and sappy, but not until after telling the honest and inspiring contemporary story a preteen discovering the potential of his mind. Adults may find the latter part of the film a tad immature for the themes it addresses, but for a younger audience, I can’t think of a better way to get its point across.
Article comments