Harold et le Crayon Magique

Kids, wife and myself all enjoyed Harold and The Purple Crayon.

I understand some people who have a close connection to the book aren't thrilled with the film. I don't know the book that well, so I was able to go into the movie with an open mind.

As a standalone story, it stands up as a fun and humorous feel-good kids film with great imagination.

Levi does a good job humanizing a very outrageous premise. He blends over the top behaviour you'd expect from a cartoon character with sincere heart. He really seems right in his wheelhouse here. Reynolds and Howery as Porcupine and Moose are great fun. And Clement is delightful as a funny antagonist you really enjoy rooting against.

As an adult viewer, you will certainly have to suspend your disbelief - even more than you would for other family fantasy films (the way they execute the leap from the "book world" to the "real world" was even more outrageous that I'd ever have expected) and the plot develops so fast it's hard to keep up with the leaps in logic. With that said, it settles in to a fun l, easy to consume, adventure.

My kids loved it and look forward to seeing it again. My wife, who is an educator familiar with the book, liked it very much as well. For me, it was a fun movie to enjoy with my family at the end of a school week.

What a fantastic, unassuming piece of pure entertainment, and so unexpected. HATPC is good, clean-hearted and spirited fun for children and adults alike. It almost makes me think about how people would have received The Wizard Of Oz back in the day, it's that happy and awe-inspiring with its visuals and comedy. I've heard of 'Zooey Deschanel' a few times but never actively seen her in anything, and I have to say what a fantastic, endearing portrayal she does of the mom. Also the boy is incredible. And as Harold, wielding his purple crayon of justice, Zachary Levi is incredible. The imagination in this is beyond what I thought cinema had given up. It's so small-scale cute that I assumed had long been given up to the TV channels. It's an amazing film.

Giving this an 5/10 rating

Would of been better as an animated feature, perhaps, but the story and characters are so bad, it would not of made any difference, it feels like a very bad Saturday morning 1980's cartoon.

Poor old Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel are the only good things in this, and they act their socks off, but can't do much with this limp film. There is no magic from the rest of the poor cast, with only great VFX that are the best thing in this. And I like Purple, but not in here.

Levi is in real danger of being typecast if he keeps playing big kids, he can do much more, Deschanel must of been passing by, and they just grabbed her, waste of great actors. The idea for the plot is fine, but it's so bland and tame, even a 5 year old would be offended by this tripe.

You have intelligent stuff as 'Inside out 2' still showing, and Sony waste our time with this. Really!

This needed to be super good, if it wants to be respect the source material, which this misses by miles, better off and cheaper to buy some crayons instead, more fun too.

I was hesitant to go see this film after looking at the low meta critic, and since I don't have a particular tie to the original book. I took my kids as an act of summer break distraction and it did just the trick. I understand why this is getting rated so low, I also love the meme reviews claiming it as the best movie ever made. This movie actually has some really great visual effects, and I think Zachary Levi's acting makes the film entertaining to watch. The problems with this movie are numerable, weird subplots between these animals turned into humans, and two different antagonists with one that they just leave behind in the Final Cut. The show lacks a clear vision, which is a shame because I think there was good bones to this. Overall I think it's a totally decent kids movie, but as a whole it is simply mediocre and lacking a clear statement.

It was unique that they decided to use an adult version of Harold and Zachary Levi did an amazing job being that grown up child. OfCourse Levi has proved that he can play a man child as Shazam so not really the biggest range in acting, which is great cause I thought it was charming and funny.

The dude from Flight of the Concords plays Gary who was actually a perfect villain for a semi children's story and I do mean Semi. Some of the jokes in the film felt a little too grown up. I know children will get them but not sure if you should tell them.

A similar movie came out this summer called If, but i thought this movie's kind heart had a lot more value to it so i pick this over IF.