Movie Review: Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web seems like the perfect material on which to base a big family movie. I have great memories of the book by E.B. White. When I was just a young one, learning to read, Charlotte's Web was my favorite book. Why I couldn't say, but there was something magical about the story. The tale of the runty pig just got itself lodged in my brain, to where I would read the book over and over and over again. I eventually grew out of that phase and have not visited the book in a probably a good twenty years. Now, here we are faced with a new movie, and I am helpless to avoid it. I am drawn to it, like a moth to a flame. I had to see if it could rekindle those memories of long ago.

The movie is the story of Fern and Wilbur. Fern awakes early one morning and finds her father in the barn tending to a newly born litter of pigs. One of those pigs is a runt, but before daddy can take him out back to meet what is the inevitable fate of a runty pig, Fern stops him and saves the young pig from its fate. What follows is a heartwarming tale of a young girl's love for a pig and the strength of a promise. Beyond that, it is the story of the power that we possess, and that regardless of what we look like or how big we are, we can be seen for our actions. It is a delightful story for the family, and this filmed version does a pretty good job of telling it.

As I sat down in the darkened theater, I was a little bit excited, even at my advanced age, in anticipation of a family movie. As I sat there watching it play out in front of me, I kept waiting to feel that magic I did when I read the book so many years ago. Sadly, the magic never came. Occasionally there would be a flicker, an on-screen glimmer of hope that threatened to ignite those long forgotten feelings, but it would just as quickly die down to a glowing ember.

Charlotte's Web is faithful to the source material, at least to the best of my recollection. The characters all seem to be hitting the right marks, in particular the self-absorbed rat with a heart, Templeton. As a whole, it is a movie that will bring a smile to your face as Wilbur the young pig brings a ray of terrific, radiant sunlight into the barn.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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