| 80 |
The New York Times
Not often does a family film come along that is literate, clever, mischievous and just plain fun.
|
| 75 |
Boston Globe
Sweetly macabre charmer.
|
| 75 |
New York Post
A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for the whole family.
|
| 75 |
New York Daily News
Strikes a nice balance between smart and sweet.
|
| 75 |
Charlotte Observer
Watchable family films are so rare these days that we shouldn't put a stake through one with so much heart.
|
| 70 |
Washington Post
Very funny in a way reminiscent of "Babe: Pig in the City."
|
| 63 |
Mr. Showbiz
A generally likeable cast atones for the underwritten script with fine comic spirit.
|
| 63 |
Philadelphia Inquirer
The obstacles are many, most notably Rookery, a local vampire hunter who looks like a rejected extra from "Mad Max."
|
| 63 |
Miami Herald
The movie is a little long for kids.
|
| 63 |
Baltimore Sun
It's not meant to be scary. It's meant to be Disney -- a fun and warm children's fantasy.
|
| 50 |
Film.com
For adults, the film will drag in spots, but it's filled with all those values you hope to instill in your children.
|
| 50 |
USA Today
A dreary poke-along adaptation of the Angela Sommer-Bodenburg children's stories.
|
| 50 |
Chicago Sun-Times
A dim-witted but visually intriguing movie.
|
| 50 |
Chicago Reader
The violence is suggested in a way that's neither overwhelming nor insulting to a child's intelligence as this crafty fairy tale ultimately finds a way for human and vampire characters to live and let live.
|
| 50 |
San Francisco Chronicle
The results are predictable and only mildly entertaining.
|
| 40 |
TV Guide
Has a terminal case of the cutes.
|
| 40 |
Los Angeles Times
Jan Stuart
(Lipnicki) is pressed into the service of mugging and shtick that would test the mettle of Roberto Benigni.
|
| 38 |
Chicago Tribune
An odd little ghoul too cleaned up to survive, a bloodless vampire movie that's mostly lifeless as well.
|
| 30 |
Variety
A mildly entertaining but dramatically messy kidpic.
|
| 30 |
LA Weekly
Slight and goofy, this cut-rate attempt to mine "Harry Potterville" is undermined by its ostensible draw: the lead casting of Jonathan Lipnicki.
|
| 25 |
Entertainment Weekly
Would like to be a Halloween treat, but it's more like a nightmare of blandness.
|
| 25 |
Portland Oregonian
The movie falters when it gets mean.
|
| 20 |
Austin Chronicle
Adults may have a hard time swallowing this toothless tale of PG-rated bloodsuckers, but kids may relate better to its lessons.
|
| 10 |
Film.com
Some things just don't translate . . . not with Lipnicki attached, at any rate. Stick with the books.
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