Tuck Everlasting: Critic Reviews

Any movie that signals the menace of a potential lynching by zooming its camera through the loop of a gallows noose cannot claim subtlety, but director Jay Russell never lets the swirling emotions of Tuck become too drippy.

An effective, well-made film that will certainly please its target audience of preteen girls.

Its weighty themes are too grave for youngsters, but the story is too steeped in fairy tales and other childish things to appeal much to teenagers.

The movie addresses a hungry need for PG-rated, nonthreatening family movies, but it doesn't go too much further.

It's solid and affecting and exactly as thought-provoking as it should be.

Bledel and Jonathan Jackson's gorge-side canoodling drifts dangerously close to Blue Lagoon territory.

Beautifully shot and scored, and its pensive pace is a throwback to Disney's past.

A quiet treasure -- a film to be savored.

The movie is too impressed with its own solemn insights to work up much entertainment value.

Although bright, well-acted and thought-provoking, Tuck Everlasting suffers from a laconic pace and a lack of traditional action.

Smart, curious and brave, Tuck Everlasting is much like its teenage heroine, Winnie.

Disney's tradition of intelligent, live-action family period cinema is magnificently revived in Tuck Everlasting.

Solid family entertainment, a handsomely crafted and well-acted new film version of Natalie Babbitt's classic 1975 children's book.

A cinematic sleeping pill of impressive potency.

Director Jay Russell stomps in hobnail boots over Natalie Babbitt's gentle, endearing 1975 children's novel.

There's no reason it couldn't have been infused with real feeling, instead of just a nice, tidy lesson about the continuity of life and the painfulness of growing up.

Disney's live-action division has a history of releasing cinematic flotsam, but this is one occasion when they have unearthed a rare gem.

Even at 90 minutes, the tottering Tuck sure feels everlasting.

Those with the patience to submit to its low-energy charms may find their time well spent.

Targets an audience of girls in their early teens, but has been made with such skill and sensitivity that its appeal spans generations.

Lovely version of the favorite middle-school book.