The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux (U)

A spirited fairy tale made by two directors who clearly learned their trade at Aardman

Director: Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen
With the voices of: Dustin Hoffman, Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson
UK/USA, 2008, 1 hour 33 minutes

Sat 28 March 11.00am / Sat 4 April 11.00am / Sun 5 11.00am - The Courtyard Hereford
Sat 28 March 2.30pm - The Regal Tenbury Wells

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Like a cross between Dumbo and The Princess Bride, this is a lovely film about a tiny, big-eared dreamer who falls in love with a (human) Princess, befriends a rat and saves a kingdom. Along the way there is an evil rat king to be faced, a soup genie to befriend and a timid serving girl to placate. Ex-Aardman directors Fell and Stevenhagen bring old-fashioned fairy tale dynamics and an inviting fireside warmth to this adaptation of the best-selling children's book.

"the lush, stylised animation and courtly flourishes would win over anyone." Empire

External Links: Observer review