Charlotte's Web (2006)

Director:

Gary Winick

Writers (WGA):

Susannah Grant (screenplay) and
Karey Kirkpatrick (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 December 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Pig Tales

Plot:

Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen. |

Plot Keywords:

Pig | Spider | Sentimental | Pumpkin | County Fair

Awards:

7 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Julia Roberts	...	Charlotte the Spider (voice)
Steve Buscemi	...	Templeton the Rat (voice)
John Cleese	...	Samuel the Sheep (voice)
Oprah Winfrey	...	Gussy the Goose (voice)
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Golly the Goose (voice)
Kathy Bates	...	Bitsy the Cow (voice)
Reba McEntire	...	Betsy the Cow (voice)
Robert Redford	...	Ike the Horse (voice)
Thomas Haden Church	...	Brooks the Crow (voice)
André Benjamin	...	Elwyn the Crow (voice)
Dominic Scott Kay	...	Wilbur (voice)
Sam Shepard	...	Narrator (voice)
Abraham Benrubi	...	Uncle the Pig (voice)
Dakota Fanning	...	Fern
Kevin Anderson	...	Mr. Arable

Also Known As:

Schweinchen Wilbur und seine Freunde (Germany)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:G | Malaysia:U | Australia:G | Singapore:PG | UK:U | Ireland:G | Netherlands:AL | Finland:S | Hong Kong:I | Brazil:Livre | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/6 | Argentina:Atp | Germany:o.Al. | Italy:T | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Denmark:A | Norway:A | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl | Canada:G (all jurisdictions)

Filming Locations:

Attwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

This was the first film based on a book by 'E. B. White (I)' since The Trumpet of the Swan (2001).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final scene, Wilbur's trough is empty. When Templeton pops out of his hole, he jumps into the trough which is filled with scraps.

Quotes:

Templeton: You're a pig! Pig equals slop. The rat is happy!
Wilbur: My name's Wilbur! Do you have a name or is it just 'The Rat'?
Templeton: Did you say 'just the rat'? For your information, pig: The rat rules! We were here long before your kind and we'll be here long after. So, you just keep that in mind next time you feel like reducing me to just 'the rat'.
Wilbur: You called yourself 'The Rat'.
Templeton: I can call me that. You can't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Charlotte's Web: How Do They Do That? (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Wilbur's Lullaby

Beautifully done, very true to the story

I was prepared for almost anything going into this movie, knowing that so many filmmakers who adapt classic stories think it is their duty to "update" the story, or feel the need to add a lot of comic relief.

Thankfully, Winick did not succumb to these temptations. Instead, he offers a delightfully filmed version of the story, with CG effects so realistic and subtle that they detract from the live action base not even a little bit.

This movie is very true to the original story, and the comic relief was, in my opinion, not at all overbearing. I got a lot of genuine laughs out of the movie, and, at 40, that's saying something for a G-rated movie aimed at families with small children.

The movie has an old-fashioned but familiar feel to it. It seems to represent the America we all think we remember, and want to see when we visit the country. It seems in many ways timeless, without feeling Disney-esquire. I'm sure this is what the filmmakers were going for, and they hit it right on the nose.

I thought the casting was excellent, for the most part. Though Agnes Moorehead (from the original animated version) absolutely bowls Oprah Winfrey over as the goose, and Julia Roberts' voice was maybe a bit too matter-of-fact for Charlotte. Debbie Reynolds' extra-sweet voice did, I think, a just-so-slightly better job in the original. That aside, Miss Fanning is perfect as Fern, and Siobhan Fallon could not play the incredulous Mrs. Zuckerman one iota better.

I think E.B. White would be pleased. This is as honest a representation of his wonderful story as anyone could hope for.

If you have small kids, read them the book, and then go see the movie.

If you read the book as a kid, and still smile when you think about it, then go see it yourself.

Highly recommended.