The Spiderwick Chronicles

The family-friendly literature-based fantasy film trend continues this weekend with THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, a Nickelodeon-produced adventure based on the bestselling children’s book series. But where most recent films have been underdeveloped and overproduced, director Mark Waters (of MEAN GIRLS) strikes a nice balance between the two. Introducing audiences to a new world without skimping over details or getting too bogged down in plot, the film is an often thrilling and always entertaining diversion for children and audiences alike.

The Grace family has just moved into an old deserted family house in the middle of nowhere. While mother Helen (Mary-Louise Parker) and children Simon (Freddie Highmore) and Mallory (Emma Bolger) remain optimistic, moody and violent Jared (Highmore again) sees the place as a dead-end. That is, until he discovers a dumbwaiter leading into the house’s dusty attic, where he uncovers a major secret; a bound leather book with a warning telling any prospective readers to turn away. Jared, being a typical film hero, naturally breaks the seal and reads the book; Arthur Spiderwick’s guide to every magical creature on Earth. Soon enough, Jared learns that every word Spiderwick wrote was true. When an evil ogre sets his sights on the book, he enlists his siblings to help defeat the monster and save the other creatures that surround them.

The plot is that of your typical children’s fantasy, but it keeps things brisk and doesn’t let its familiarity become a crutch. A lot of explanation is required to explain the various creatures and what they do, but it avoids the faults of other recent fantasy pics by not dropping their name once and then assuming viewers will catch up. The real world is melded with the fantastical elements quite well; the reasoning behind the creatures’ existence and why most people cannot see them is convincingly illustrated, and does lead to some shocking moments late in the film. Waters keeps the film constantly moving; once the action starts, it never really stops. Even the requisite pause for dramatic development just before the finale isn’t as momentum-killing as it could have been.

It is successful, in no small part, to the charisma and likeability of Bolger and Highmore. Highmore in particular continues his streak of being the most sympathetic and emotive of the wide-eyed child actors out there today and injects several noteworthy traits to differentiate his two characters. Truth be told, Simon and Jared are like night and day, but the differences in Highmore’s speech patterns and vocal inflections are something to be admired. Throw in some entertainingly spirited vocal performances from Martin Short and Seth Rogen as two magical allies, and you’ve got a film where the actors are having as much fun as the audience. Some younger viewers may find the tenser moments of the film too scary, but it’s all worth it in the end.

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES is a light, fun introduction to a world not too different from our own. Making sure to develop all possibilities in story, rather than finding the quickest way to the action and throwing caution to the world, it is a genuinely well-plotted and well-made film. With likeable performances and action audiences of all ages can enjoy, the film is a perfect retreat for families; something that will keep kids entertained will keeping adults from rolling their eyes in boredom.

***/****