X
  • 2008
  • G
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 33 m
  • 2008
  • G
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 33 m

Summary Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, raucous laughter aplenty and gallons of mouth-watering soup. But a terrible accident left the king broken-hearted, the princess filled with longing and the townsfolk despondent. All hope was lost in a land where sunlight disappeared and the world became dreary g...

Directed By: Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen

Written By: Kate DiCamillo, Gary Ross, Will McRobb, Chris Viscardi

  • 2008
  • G
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 33 m
  • 2008
  • G
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 33 m

The Tale of Despereaux

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 25 Critic Reviews
53
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, raucous laughter aplenty and gallons of mouth-watering soup. But a terrible accident left the king broken-hearted, the princess filled with longing and the townsfolk despondent. All hope was lost in a land where sunlight disappeared and the world became dreary g...

Directed By: Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen

Written By: Kate DiCamillo, Gary Ross, Will McRobb, Chris Viscardi

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 25 Critic Reviews
53
48% Positive
12 Reviews
40% Mixed
10 Reviews
12% Negative
3 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 25 Critic Reviews
53
48% Positive
12 Reviews
40% Mixed
10 Reviews
12% Negative
3 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
88
A perfect fairytale, adhering to The Princess Bride's standards of fighting, fencing, torture, and true love, without the ham-fisted moral element of so many of its fairy-tale predecessors.
FULL REVIEW
75
It is a joy to look at frame by frame, and it would be worth getting the Blu-ray to do that. I am not quite so thrilled by the story, which at times threatens to make "Gormenghast" seem straightforward.
By Roger Ebert FULL REVIEW
63
While the story does not quite come to magical life, the themes of courage, hope and decency are sweetly inspiring.
By Claudia Puig FULL REVIEW
60
While it meanders on its way to the requisite happy ending, the lush, stylised animation and courtly flourishes would win over anyone.
FULL REVIEW
50
A little slow for the very youngest kids -- though the messages it imparts are certainly ones you'll want them to hear.
By Bob Mondello FULL REVIEW
50
This graphically well-rendered kidpic is less crass and mouthy than many recent feature-length toons, but also more sluggish and ungainly as it tries to approximate DiCamillo's singularly delicate tone.
By Justin Chang FULL REVIEW
25
Kids will get antsy, wondering why their favorite characters disappear for long stretches of the film, while adults will wonder just when this scattershot approach to storytelling will congeal into something resembling coherence.
By Chris Kaltenbach FULL REVIEW
See All 25 Critic Reviews

Details

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Production Company Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Larger Than Life Productions, Framestore Feature Animation, Universal Animation Studios
Release Date Dec 19, 2008
Duration 1 h 33 m
Rating G
Genres
Tagline Small Hero. Big Heart.
View All Details

Awards

Annie Awards
• 4 Nominations
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
• 1 Nomination

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