X
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG
- Sony Pictures Releasing Argentina
- 1 h 30 m
- 2024
- PG
- Sony Pictures Releasing Argentina
- 1 h 30 m
Summary A young boy named Harold embarks on a magical mission with the help of his purple crayon
Directed By: Carlos Saldanha
Written By: David Guion, Michael Handelman, Crockett Johnson
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG
- Sony Pictures Releasing Argentina
- 1 h 30 m
- 2024
- PG
- Sony Pictures Releasing Argentina
- 1 h 30 m
Harold and the Purple Crayon
34
4.7
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Summary A young boy named Harold embarks on a magical mission with the help of his purple crayon
Directed By: Carlos Saldanha
Written By: David Guion, Michael Handelman, Crockett Johnson
Where to Watch
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 23 Critic Reviews
34
4% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
57% Mixed
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
39% Negative
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 23 Critic Reviews
34
4% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
57% Mixed
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
39% Negative
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
This bright children’s adventure, loosely adapted from a picture book about a young boy whose drawings become real, feels like the sort of thing Jim Carrey might have made in his first flush of success. It’s silly, relentlessly amiable, and embraces the low-stakes playfulness of its conceit.
Even if the book’s story has been told and the movie’s format has been done before, a movie that reminds us to be imaginative — and that delivers some imaginative visuals to boot — can’t really get old.
By Kaitlyn Huamani
FULL REVIEW
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 28 User Ratings
4.7
43% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
14% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
43% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 28 User Ratings
4.7
43% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
14% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
43% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
My 7 year old loved and wanted to see it again afterwards (which is rare). It does feel more like a straight to dvd movie and not a cinema event.
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The true fatal flaw of Harold and the Purple Crayon is that everything—from the story to the visual design—feels like it came pre-packaged in a microwave dinner.
It’s well-intentioned and manages some nicely judged messaging by the end, but Harold’s mugging and his animal companions’ antics aren’t nearly as cute as the film thinks they are.
The charming, gentle simplicity of the book, with its childlike art, has been displaced by a mania for digital images and frantic attempts to be funny. This crayon should have been left in its box.
The diplomatic thing to do would be to say the new film of Harold and the Purple Crayon is misguided, dull and mostly humorless and leave it at that.
Here is a film that pays lip service to the importance of creativity without ever displaying a demonstrable shred of it during its seemingly interminable run time.
Those expecting the classic, boring children's film are wrong and may even be surprised. Acted well by the entire cast, without ever coming across as cloying or cringe-worthy, it often brings more than a smile to your face and at times even gets you excited. Obviously there is very little to say about it, it is certainly not a film that takes itself seriously or that has an articulated plot, but it does its duty decidedly well and makes you spend an hour and a half in pure serenity, remaining satisfied with having spent it watching it. The final part, set in the real museum dedicated to the author of the book from which the film is taken, is very beautiful and brings a small tear of joy, even to the less sensitive.
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IN A NUTSHELL:
This is the first movie adaptation of the popular children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon where Harold draws anything from his imagination with a purple crayon to have adventures with his friends, Moose and Porcupine. When he grows up (in this movie), he enters the real world and realizes he has a lot to learn about life and the power of imagination.
The film was directed by Carlos Saldanha. Writing credits go to David Guion and Michael Handelman.
Many film critics are giving very low scores for this movie; however, families are loving it.
THINGS I LIKED:
I adore the talented Zachary Levi. He’s perfect in this as a sweet Man Child.
Zooey Deschanel is also so talented. It was great seeing her in a feature film again. It has been a while. I wish cute actresses wouldn’t mess with their beautiful faces. She looked different and I kept trying to figure out what work she had done. It looked like filler and Botox. I was distracted by her lips every time she was on screen.
I instantly recognized Alfred Molina’s classic voice as the narrator. Nice choice.
Lil Rel Howery has been showing up in all kinds of movies recently. Congrats to him. He always adds a fun touch. This is his 5th time using his voice talents in an animation. In this hybrid film, he is both a voice and live action character.
Jermaine Clement makes an amusing villain. He’s not too scary, so young kids should be able to watch this movie without fear. He previously worked with the director as the voice of a **** in the animation franchise called Rio.
The young actor, Benjamin Bottani, did a fine job.
In the film, some of the characters travel to the real Crockett Johnson house, which has been turned into a museum in Rowayton, Connecticut.
The draw-battle was cute and entertaining.
Many of the scenes looked like cartoon sequences come to life…in a good way.
The film will definitely spark the imagination of your kids!
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
How can you have a movie with talented singers like Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel and NOT have them sing together? So disappointing! What a missed opportunity. There is even a piano scene that could have easily turned into a singing moment. Drats.
I was fully expecting the moose and porcupine to turn into live-action animals, not humans, in the real world.
Spider fly. Ick and eww.
Several plot points don’t make any sense. (No spoilers.)
Dead parent. Cliched.
There are some story threads that are just completely dropped. (No spoilers.)
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
No profanity. Yay!
This is truly family-friendly for all ages, but I think young kids will enjoy it the most.
Bullies are portrayed as adults and kids
People evade the police
Lots of destruction
Be sure to point out the themes and lessons learned in the story to your kids. Some of the movie quotes I share below list them well.
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The kids liked it, but the graphics could have been done better. So there is something to laugh at, the actors' performance was quite pleasant
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PT-BR
Harold e o Lápis Mágico, dirigido por Carlos Saldanha, é uma colorida viagem ao mundo da imaginação infantil, adaptando um clássico americano que, para eles, é o que Menino Maluquinho é para nós. Com Zachary Levi no papel principal e Saldanha na direção, o filme claramente mira no público infantil americano, mas com um olho esperto no mercado internacional.
Eu fui assistir sem esperar muita coisa, achando que seria só mais uma daquelas produções infantis bobinhas. Mas, para minha surpresa, o filme conseguiu me entreter na maior parte do tempo. A equipe de Saldanha mostra um carinho evidente na produção, criando um mundo cheio de cores vibrantes e um CGI que, mesmo sem ser espetacular, cumpre bem o seu papel dentro da fantasia.
O que Harold e o Lápis Mágico faz de melhor é entender o seu público-alvo. Saldanha não tenta reinventar a roda; ele mantém as coisas simples e acessíveis, recheando a tela com cores e piadas que, embora nem sempre acertem, garantem a diversão. Zachary Levi, mais caricato do que nunca, abraça o papel com entusiasmo, quase como uma versão exagerada de seu Shazam! em um uniforme roxo.
No final das contas, Harold e o Lápis Mágico é um filme que entrega exatamente o que promete: uma experiência leve e divertida para as crianças. Não é um daqueles filmes para se levar a sério, mas sim para curtir com a família, sem grandes pretensões. O filme deve fazer um certo sucesso nos Estados Unidos e, se por acaso o filme acabar conquistando também o público internacional, será uma surpresa muito bem-vinda.
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No fundo a intenção era homenagear a criatividade em detrimento à vida real, e de como a imaginação é um escape para suportar a realidade, o que é uma ideia muito bacana, só faltou... Criatividade! O começo do filme é estupendo , Carlos Saldanha continua mandando bem na animação, mas é só tudo vir ao mundo real que temos um roteiro esquemático, bobinho, e decepciona que o lápis seja pouco usado aqui, pois as poucas vezes rendem sempre muito e seguram o filme. No mais, um vilão que não se justifica, em plots que apostam na correria, acabando por afetar a alma. E quando a lição do filme vem muito mastigada, é porque o peso das imagens não soube falar por si.
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Awards
Family Film Awards
• 1 Nomination