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The Spiderwick Chronicles

Review By: Michael Dance
MichaelDance@TheCinemaSource.com

If you’re looking for a legitimately entertaining family fantasy film in between Harry Potter releases, look no further. The Spiderwick Chronicles is a solidly constructed flick whose biggest miracle is perhaps that it’s complete: for once, there’s no hook for a sequel or two or five, and you feel like you get your money’s worth, unlike some franchise-desperate wannabe like Jumper.

Freddie Highmore stars with, like in August Rush, a perfect American accent, although this time he one-ups himself by playing twins. I know it’s a slim chance, but I hope the kid doesn’t disappear as soon as he loses his little-kid cuteness and starts getting spotted in clubs making out with Dakota Fanning (which should be any day now, since according to IMDb he just turned sixteen).

Anyway, Highmore plays Jared and Simon Grace, who move, along with their older sister Mallory (Sarah Bolger) and mother Helen (Mary-Louise Parker), from New York City to New England after Helen and her husband separate. Their new residence is the Spiderwick Estate, a decrepit mansion once owned by their crazy great aunt Lucinda Spiderwick, who now apparently lives in either a nuthouse or a retirement home.

Simon is the prissy pacifist of the family, while Jared is sullen, argumentative, and still believes his dad is coming back. (Highmore miraculously doesn’t overplay their contrasting personalities, and is actually pretty hilarious when he’s playing Simon as the comic relief). It’s pretty clear, judging from the ominous noises coming from the attic, that something fishy is going on in the estate, and soon Jared is staring face to face with a tiny mythical creature named Thimbletack (voiced, naturally, by Martin Short).

Turns out the creature is guarding Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, a book written by Lucinda’s father (David Stathairn), which reveals the truth about the world: fantasy creatures like boggarts, goblins, and trolls actually exist, but humans can’t normally see them. Arthur mysteriously disappeared years ago, and before he did he placed a protective circle around the house, which is a good thing since his book is desperately sought after by a gang of goblins led by Mulgarath (Nick Nolte), an ogre who can take any shape. Once he finds out that Jared’s in possession of the book, well, it’s on.

Soon Simon and Mallory realize Jared’s telling the truth about all of this, and some serious sibling bonding happens over the course of the goblin battles and troll chases. The movie succeeds as a fun thrill ride because of some smart plotting and because it’s actually allowed to be frightening; there are real stakes, and real injuries, and Mulgarath is a legitimately scary bad guy. And some touches are just plain fun: did I mention Mallory’s a fencing nut who never goes anywhere without her sword? Gee, that ...