Rating of
3/4
Has Something Magical to Offer
Franz Patrick - wrote on 08/30/08
Even though it doesn’t feel as epic as the “Harry Potter,” “His Dark Materials” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, “The Spiderwick Chronicles” has something magical to offer. Freddie Highmore plays two characters–twins Jared Grace and Simon Grace–the former is tougher, more adventurous, while the latter is more soft-spoken and a bit geeky. It’s interesting to watch Highmore play the two because they are so opposite, yet he could pull it off pretty well. Not only are the characters different in personalities, their contributions in order to defeat the evil creatures differed as well. Sarah Bolger, who plays Mallory Grace, is a nice addition because she has that sword-wielding, older sister, girl-power. Interestingly enough, the mother, played by Mary-Louise Parker, was kind of irksome because her character was unaware of what was happening throughout most of the film. I think this fantasy adventure is edgy because there are some dark thematic material that would pop-up once in a while, which is why I’m surprised this got a PG rating. Also, the creatures can get pretty scary for some younger viewers (especially toward the end). I did like that some of the family’s problems are connected to real life; it was that much more relatable so it was easier to care for the characters. I just wish it had a little more punch regarding the story so the film could have been stronger. I recommend this film because it’s fast-paced, heart-pounding, and cute in its own edgy way. It made me think of my childhood when my cousins and I would play pretend.
