The SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES is a fairy tale/fantasy based on a series of Holly Black and DiTerlizzi books.  It centres on the Grace family led by single mother Helen (Mary-Louise Parker), dealing with the family’s goal of trying to get back together as a whole. 

The film’s title derives from the field guide written by Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn).  It logs all the secrets of the fairy world.  If the Pandora’s box falls into the wrong hands of Mulgrath the ogre (Nick Nolte), the whole world of fairies and humans will be destroyed.  Thus begins the adventures of the family in saving the two worlds.

If all the above sounds childish, director Waters (MEAN GIRLS) injects sufficient scares and horrors to bring the tale to the level of an exciting action flick.  There are chases through tunnels, special effect fights and surprises all along the way.  The film also deals with adult issues of parent separation, sibling rivalry and loneliness.  Waters blends in good old fashioned horror (the goblins) and fantasy (the flight of the griffin) while staying away from sentiment and sappiness.

Veterans Nolte, Strathairn and Joan Plowright bring class to the project but it is pretty much Freddie Highmore’s (FINDING NEVERLAND, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY) movie.  He plays both roles of the twins Jared and Simon.

Waters’ film is well paced and plotted and does not jump all over the place like the recent flop THE GOLDEN COMPASS.  THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES is good enjoyable family fare for adults as well and deserves to do well at the box-office.  It will face tough competition from JUMPER which also opens this weekend.