Director: Mark Waters
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright
Rated PG for scary creature action and violence, peril, and some thematic elements
Having to deal with a new and painful separation, a mother and her three kids move into an old house in the woods. Mallory (Sarah Bolger), the oldest and only daughter, seems the strongest and the one who helps her mother out the most in dealing with this difficult situation. Twins Simon and Jared (both played by Freddie Highmore) couldn’t be more different. Simon is straight-laced, with tucked in shirts and khakis, and is a self proclaimed pacifist. Jared is a bit of a rebel. He misses his dad and lashes out at his mother and his siblings, even punching and kicking objects around him. He’s mopey and moody, and wants his dad to come take him away.
Their first night in the house, Jared finds a dumb-waiter in the kitchen and finds that it leads to an attic full of cool stuff. He finds a key and discovers it opens a dusty trunk. Inside the trunk is a mysterious book with a warning note on it, and even though it warns of impending doom, Jared reads it. It’s called “The Spiderwick Chronicles”, written by Jared’s great-uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Eighty years ago, he wrote down all of the secrets of the world of goblins and pixies and fairies that he discovered and put them all in this book. The minute that Jared reads this information, the house is in danger. The goblin king Mulgarath wants these secrets so that he can become powerful and take over these hidden worlds. The house in under constant attack by his army of goblins who want to take the book from Jared. Jared, Simon, and Mallory must band together to defeat this army and keep the book and their house safe.
If I lost your attention when I said “goblins and pixies and fairies”, let me attempt to rein you back in. This is not Happy Rainbow Unicorn Land where everyone stops to frolic through the tulips to “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies”. When those goblins attack the house, it’s all out war. The kids get scratched, bit, and hurt by these things. They ain’t playin’ around. The goblins and all the other types of mythical creatures who make up Mulgarath’s army are scary. Mulgarath himself? Not so much. Mulgarath, a shape shifting baddie who strikes fear in everyone because he kills anything and everything that gets in his way, is played by Nick Nolte. There is only one scene where he is not shape shifting and appears in human form, and Nolte appears disheveled. Not too far from his famed arrest picture, and not very scary looking. He does provide the voice when Mulgarath takes his other forms, and he is very effective in this way.
Freddie Highmore is impressive in this film, tackling two very different roles. When he started out, I didn’t give him much thought. Another child actor, whoopee doo. But since his turn in last year’s “August Rush”, where he learned several musical instruments WELL, I’m a fan. He does run the risk of overexposure, a la Dakota Fanning. He’s been in so much recently. I still really like him. Sarah Bolger, who was in “Premonition” and “In America”, is great as older sister Mallory. She added a lot of life to the film and was fun to watch. Mary-Louise Parker, whom I’ve adored since “Fried Green Tomatoes” and whom everyone loves from “Weeds”, has become one of those actresses that I’m just excited to see no matter what she’s in. She adds depth to a character that could be overshadowed amidst the kids and the goblins. Rounding out the cast is Andrew McCarthy who I completely did not recognize while he was onscreen. He's in the movie for no more than 5 minutes, but his scene is crutial to the story and character development.
Now for the question I was most interested in hearing the answer to when I was considering taking my kids: Is it too scary? Well, it depends. My seven year old son was scared during most of the movie. He covered his eyes and curled up in his seat, but when it was over, he thoroughly enjoyed it. My five year old daughter? She loved every minute. Every time my son cowered, I’d turn to her and ask if she was OK. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the screen and every time she said, “No way, mama! This is great!” So really, it just depends on what your kids can handle. Every parent should have a pretty good idea. Overall, it’s harmless fantasy fun.
“The Spiderwick Chronicles” isn’t as kid-oriented as you may think. It’s deep and tackles issues such as divorce and the disappointment associated with it. But it handles its issues in a way that doesn’t talk down to kids and still makes everything very easy to understand. There have been several children’s movies lately that have far exceeded my expectations. This one falls in the same category as “Martian Child”: must-see family entertainment.
4 out of 5 stars
Their first night in the house, Jared finds a dumb-waiter in the kitchen and finds that it leads to an attic full of cool stuff. He finds a key and discovers it opens a dusty trunk. Inside the trunk is a mysterious book with a warning note on it, and even though it warns of impending doom, Jared reads it. It’s called “The Spiderwick Chronicles”, written by Jared’s great-uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Eighty years ago, he wrote down all of the secrets of the world of goblins and pixies and fairies that he discovered and put them all in this book. The minute that Jared reads this information, the house is in danger. The goblin king Mulgarath wants these secrets so that he can become powerful and take over these hidden worlds. The house in under constant attack by his army of goblins who want to take the book from Jared. Jared, Simon, and Mallory must band together to defeat this army and keep the book and their house safe.
If I lost your attention when I said “goblins and pixies and fairies”, let me attempt to rein you back in. This is not Happy Rainbow Unicorn Land where everyone stops to frolic through the tulips to “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies”. When those goblins attack the house, it’s all out war. The kids get scratched, bit, and hurt by these things. They ain’t playin’ around. The goblins and all the other types of mythical creatures who make up Mulgarath’s army are scary. Mulgarath himself? Not so much. Mulgarath, a shape shifting baddie who strikes fear in everyone because he kills anything and everything that gets in his way, is played by Nick Nolte. There is only one scene where he is not shape shifting and appears in human form, and Nolte appears disheveled. Not too far from his famed arrest picture, and not very scary looking. He does provide the voice when Mulgarath takes his other forms, and he is very effective in this way.
Freddie Highmore is impressive in this film, tackling two very different roles. When he started out, I didn’t give him much thought. Another child actor, whoopee doo. But since his turn in last year’s “August Rush”, where he learned several musical instruments WELL, I’m a fan. He does run the risk of overexposure, a la Dakota Fanning. He’s been in so much recently. I still really like him. Sarah Bolger, who was in “Premonition” and “In America”, is great as older sister Mallory. She added a lot of life to the film and was fun to watch. Mary-Louise Parker, whom I’ve adored since “Fried Green Tomatoes” and whom everyone loves from “Weeds”, has become one of those actresses that I’m just excited to see no matter what she’s in. She adds depth to a character that could be overshadowed amidst the kids and the goblins. Rounding out the cast is Andrew McCarthy who I completely did not recognize while he was onscreen. He's in the movie for no more than 5 minutes, but his scene is crutial to the story and character development.
Now for the question I was most interested in hearing the answer to when I was considering taking my kids: Is it too scary? Well, it depends. My seven year old son was scared during most of the movie. He covered his eyes and curled up in his seat, but when it was over, he thoroughly enjoyed it. My five year old daughter? She loved every minute. Every time my son cowered, I’d turn to her and ask if she was OK. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the screen and every time she said, “No way, mama! This is great!” So really, it just depends on what your kids can handle. Every parent should have a pretty good idea. Overall, it’s harmless fantasy fun.
“The Spiderwick Chronicles” isn’t as kid-oriented as you may think. It’s deep and tackles issues such as divorce and the disappointment associated with it. But it handles its issues in a way that doesn’t talk down to kids and still makes everything very easy to understand. There have been several children’s movies lately that have far exceeded my expectations. This one falls in the same category as “Martian Child”: must-see family entertainment.
4 out of 5 stars
Jenny Rushing
On my way home from work, I was hoping you would review.
Glad you liked it too.
It was a good film.
Great review.
I liked this one (saw it last night)... I just thought it left WAY too many unanswered questions.
Great review. This one does look pretty good.