Gary Winick’s CHARLOTTE’S WEB is a charming modern live action update of the E.B. White’s children classic of the same name.  Though basically a children’s chick flick – the film highlights for example a young girl’s first romance with a neighbour during the farm fare and has the main characters, Charlotte and Fern both female – Winick’s film contains enough diversions to interest both sexes and many adults as well.  The 2006 version is a vast improvement over the bland animated 1972 version.

Wilbur (Dominic Scott Kay) is a runt pig saved twice from an untimely death.  Firstly, Wilbur is taken under the care of Fern (Dakota Fanning).  When Wilbur moves into a new barn, he befriends Charlotte (Julia Roberts) who, with the help of some other animal friends, particularly Templeton the rat (Steve Buscemi) help Wilbur sidestep the bacon frying pan.

An impressive cast voice the animals from John Cleese, Roberts (as Charlotte), Buscemi, Kathy Bates, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Thomas Hayden Church to Robert Redford.  Winick’s film contains a few moments of expert comic timing.  Just after Wilbur is first saved by Fern from the knife, the next scene has Fern’s mother sizzling side bacon in the frying pan.  Winick and crew create an idyllic farmhouse and country setting for Wilbur and Fern.  All the folks in the film are friendly and farm-looking (men are generally plump with short beards and whiskers and the ladies are clothed in long frocks and aprons) and the grass is always green everywhere.  Though the story has no real evil villain making it a sort of goody two shoes film, the uncomfortable topic of death is covered innocuously as part of the cycle of life.  Multiple messages in the film such as the importance of friendship leading to family and how one can make a difference are nicely tied in making CHARLOTTE’S WEB perfect Christmas fare for the family.