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THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX

With Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, Sigourney Weaver, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci, Ciarán Hinds, Robbie Coltrane, Frank Langella

Written by Will McRobb, Gary Ross, Chris Viscardi (based on the book by Kate DiCamillo)
Directed by Sam Fell & Robert Stevenhagen

This alternative fairytale is not exactly Disney, but also very far from inaccessible as young and old can be entertained by its moments of fun (countered with a good dose of cruelty!), and the morals & lessons ultimately built into it. Born into a family of mice, Despereaux is not like the others of his species (in more ways than just his huge ears). He is not content with their roles mice fulfill as timid and frightened creatures. The kingdom in which they find themselves take a serious turn when the king's wife passes away, dumping him into melancholy and banning the area's favourite soup festival. The creature indirectly responsible for this turn of events is Roscuro, a rat who ventures down to the sewers where all the other rats live, much to his chagrin as he was a carefree rat sailing the seas with his human master. When Despereaux breaks too many rules (which includes reading a fairytale of a brave knight and speaking with the princess, a human), he is banished to the depths below. Here he meets Roscuro, which leads to the transformation of not only those around them, but the entire kingdom through adventure, danger, bravery and virtue.

Extras: Include several Despereaux games and Top Ten Uses For Oversized Ears

4 / C
- Paul Blom


0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B
- C



6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temp.
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice

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