In the awkward 'Harold and the Purple Crayon,' a toddler is now a childlike adult

Directed by Carlos Saldanha, this adaptation of a classic children's book makes some odd decisions, but the Tom Hanks 'Big' magic never materializes.

The sheer existence of this live-action adaptation of the classic children’s book “Harold and the Purple Crayon” inspires a number of questions on a basic level. Who is this for? The book by Crockett Jensen, published in 1955, is aimed at ages 3 and up, but the film, adapted by David Guion and Michael Handelman and starring an almost entirely adult cast, skews older. Yet the premise still feels too thin and juvenile to grab audiences of any age.

But there’s something deeply strange about his performance here, grinning and mugging with childlike wonder in a way that can only be read as disingenuous. For some reason, when they step into the real world, Moose and Porcupine become human, but I wouldn’t want to start asking questions to which there can’t be any good answers, so we’ll leave it at that. The trio cause light havoc, glomming onto a single mom, Terry , and her son, Mel .

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

latimes /  🏆 11. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

The Weekend Watch: Harold and the Purple Crayon and Other Harold StoriesA live-action version might be in theaters, but we shouldn't forget the magic of Harold and the Purple Crayon and Other Harold Stories.
Read more »

What to watch with your kids: ‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’ and moreCommon Sense Media also reviews “Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie,” “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” and “Batman: Caped Crusader.”
Read more »

Harold And The Purple Crayon is a bit more colorful than the adaptation deservesHarold and the Purple Crayon is a cynical, rote adaptation of a children's classic has enough charm to balance its lack of imagination.
Read more »

Harold and the Purple Crayon Review: Irreparably IrritatingFilm critic Jonathan Sim's review of Harold and the Purple Crayon, a new fantasy comedy movie starring Zachary Levi.
Read more »

Interview: Zooey Deschanel & Lil Rel Howery on Harold and the Purple CrayonComingSoon spoke to Harold and the Purple Crayon stars Zooey Deschanel and Lil Rel Howery about the family comedy.
Read more »

Where To Watch Harold & The Purple Crayon: Showtimes & Streaming StatusZachary Levi in Harold and the Purple Crayon poster
Read more »