Variety
This graphically well-rendered kidpic is less crass and mouthy than many recent feature-length toons, but also more sluggish and ungainly as it tries to approximate DiCamillo's singularly delicate tone.
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The Tale of Despereaux
Based on the award-winning children's book, this animated family comedy is loaded with famous names in the voice-acting department. Sigourney Weaver narrates the tale of Despereaux (Matthew Broderick), a small mouse who is something of an outcast amongst his own community because of his big ears but small body, as well as his penchant for reading rather than eating books. His first contact with humans sees him fall hopelessly in love with the human Princess Pea (Emma Watson). Caught between two worlds, the opportunity for heroism soon presents itself. On the way he'll encounter the voices of Dustin Hoffman, Christopher Lloyd and William H. Macy.
2009Rating: PG, some scenes may scare very young childrenUK, USAUniversal Animation Studios
AnimatedKids & Family
The Tale of Despereaux / Reviews
The New York Times
A pleasantly immersive, beautifully animated, occasionally sleepy tale.
Full reviewRoger Ebert
It is a joy to look at frame by frame, and it would be worth getting the Blu-ray to do that. I am not quite so thrilled by the story, which at times threatens to make "Gormenghast" seem straightforward.
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New Zealand Herald
A beautifully animated fairytale with adorable characters, but it's too sombre to appeal to the younger audience it's aimed at.
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Hollywood Reporter
The flatly generic results certainly appear at odds with the picture's stirring visual style, which pays homage to the great Flemish artists.
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Empire Magazine
While it meanders on its way to the requisite happy ending, the lush, stylised animation and courtly flourishes would win over anyone.
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