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June 10, 2008
Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)
Should I see it?
No.


Short Review: Coincidentally, I was the one put to sleep.



Remember back in the old days when family friendly films were uplifting and fun? Geez, here I was thinking I was in for a nice little flick about a kid and her dog, and I get child abandonment, alcoholism and a dozen morose characters shuffling around like mopey zombies. This is an adaptation from a book that won the Newbery Award. This film wins the Dingleberry Award.

First, I will attack the child actress. This yelping kid was wholly annoying. It is possible to get kids to act without having them scream their lines, I know, I've seen it done. The screeching child in question is cute little AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia). Watching her was like watching a two-hour long Kool-Aid commercial.

The remainder of the cast doesn't fare much better, and they’re older which makes it worse. What the heck is Dave Matthews doing in this thing? I am sick and tired of seeing musicians acting in films. It’s not that he’s a bad actor, he’s okay. The fact is that a real actor, someone who spent his time studying and practicing his craft is out of a job because of him. It’s not just Matthews, it’s all the rappers and other MTV (or in Matthews case VH1) celebs. When you see one of these goofballs on screen, they are lowering the standards of the craft, and they’re keeping someone who deserves the chance from getting in.

Beyond the acting, this story was not well thought out. It meandered around like a drunk walking into walls, bumping into story lines and symbolism. An example of this is when the young heroine spends a bulk of her time in a pet store with a greasy, unwashed shopkeeper. She is there working to earn a dog collar for a remarkable stray dog she has found. We learn half-way through the movie that the shop owner is actually a criminal (more about that in a minute.) At no time does anyone, with the exception of the inept cop, have a second thought about a felon spending an inordinate amount of time with a little girl behind closed doors.

Christian critics and audiences have embraced this film. Again, Christians have been lulled into thinking that a lack of violence and sex equates goodness. WRONG. The morality of this flick is questionable at best in many areas. I’ve seen better morality plays in episodes of Deal or No Deal than in this yammering mess.

When the criminal pet shop owner is exposed by the inept cop, the criminal explains himself to the little girl. He tells her "He never hurt nobody." He then tells his story of how he was panhandling, a police officer tried to stop him. The criminal then admits that he breaks the cop’s nose when he/she tried to take away his guitar. This man assaults a police officer and the film portrays him as the victim. He "never hurt nobody" because after all, the cop was going to take away his music. Nice message for the kids.

All of the authority figures in the movie are weak, nuts, or plain useless. The cop in the film is a doofus (although well played by the talented Harlin Williams (Rocketman).) The librarian and "the Witch" blind woman are both possibly nuts. The owner of the trailer park the little girl and her pastor father live is greedy and full of grumbling violent threats. Finally, the pastor father (Jeff Daniels (The Crossing)) is confused and weak. He only comes around after he pleads with his daughter on his knees for forgiveness for something HE DID NOT DO. He takes the blame for the girl’s mother’s drinking problem. Again, nice message for the kids.

My three-year old son put it best. This was his first movie he watched in the theater and we both had high hopes. The dreadful thing finished and as we’re walking out, I asked him what he thought. He furrowed his brow, shook his head and said "That was way too long."

I love my son.


Related Reviews:
Jeff Daniels movies
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
The Crossing (2001)


Other Critic's Reviews:
National Review Online
Agape Press


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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 8:00 AM




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