Wilbur is Some Pig
Charlotte's Web Captures the Heart

I remember going to the drive-in movies as a kid and seeing Charlotte's Web, the animated song-fest that came to theaters in 1973. I remember liking Templeton the rat, voiced by Paul Lynde. I also remember my sister cried inconsolably at the end of the film. I never understood why. It was just a cartoon. This week, I had the opportunity to see the live-action version of Charlotte's Web. For the record, if you don't cry at this movie you have a heart of stone.

Charlotte's Web
The terrific, radiant, and humble pig Wilbur (voiced by Dominic Scott Kay) meets an unlikely friend named Charlotte (voiced by Julia Roberts). (Paramount, 2006)
Directed by: Gary Winick
Written by: Susannah Grant and Karey Kirkpatrick, based on the children's novel by E.B. White.
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Dominic Scott Kay, Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire, Robert Redford, Thomas Haden Church, and Sam Shepard

Rated G
Running time: 97 min.

FilmGuru's Rating : 10 out of 10.

The story of this remake is the same as the original, minus the musical numbers. Although this may be an issue for some (like my wife) who remember with fondness Debbie Reynolds's singing, the absence of music didn't bother me.

Fern (Dakota Fanning) is a young farm girl who awakens one rainy night to find that the sow has had its litter. There are too many piglets, and Fern's father (Kevin Anderson) plans to do away with the runt of the litter. Fern, however, saves the little one and names him Wilbur. She feeds him by hand, cares for him, and raises him until he is too big for the house. He is sold to the Zuckerman's farm next door where he is introduced to life in the barn.

For Wilbur (voiced by Dominic Scott Kay), the barn is a wondrous place. Yet, for all the animals there, he has no one to call a friend. His first night without Fern, Wilbur is upset until a voice calms him and tells him that she will be his friend. Wilbur cannot see the owner of the voice, but he goes to sleep in peace.

This is the beginning of the unlikely friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte (voiced by Julia Roberts). While most of the other animals don't like her because she is a hideous spider, Wilbur sees the beauty in Charlotte and the miraculous webs she creates. They become close and she watches over him, vowing to help assure he will see a winter snow (something rare for a spring pig on a farm).

Charlotte's Web is a classic, not only because of the story of friendship that fosters between a pig and a spider, but because it is honest. For kids in the city, the story of life on a farm may be a bit of a shocker. Yes, animals are regularly killed for meat. Yes, sometimes a goose lays a bad egg. Yes, all things die. In these truths, however, is a larger truth about the value of life.

The computer wizardry that allows real animals to act and speak in this film is amazing. The voice work is accomplished by a veritable who's who of big name actors, including Steve Buscemi as Templeton, John Cleese as the lead sheep Samuel, Oprah Winfrey as Gussy the Goose, Kathy Bates as Bitsy the cow, Robert Redford as Ike the horse, and Thomas Hayden Church as the crow Brooks. These actors brings life to their characters. The personas of each animal, from the blind following of the sheep to the old-fashioned work ethic of the horse, bring a piece of the barnyard to life.

And, oh yeah, there are some humans in the movie, too. Fanning plays Fern with a bright-eyed innocence that I haven't seen since Drew Barrymore was in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. She was perfect for this role. Fern's father (Anderson) and mother (Essie Davis) are caring, concerned parents who don't try to shield her from the realities of farm life. Beau Bridges plays Dr. Dorian with a good-natured, country wisdom that allows us to appreciate the miracle of Fern's world. Tying it all together is the soft-spoken voice of Sam Shephard as the narrator.

The wonderful story of Charlotte's Web is a timeless classic. The new film will appeal to young and old alike. The story of friendship in the most unlikely of circumstances and the sacrifice of friends, is sweet, heart-warming, and will genuinely move one to tears. It is a family movie that should be treasured by all.