Charming animated adventure story about a chivalrous mouse (voice of Matthew Broderick) who is banished to a rat-filled tunnel for fearlessly befriending a distressed human princess (voice of Emma Watson), contrary to the timid customs of his society, and gains the protection of a globe-trotting rat (voice of Dustin Hoffman) with gourmet tastes, who also dreams of derring-do.
Though somewhat overloaded with multiple plotlines, co-directors Sam Fell and Rob Stevenhagen’s painterly adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s 2003 best-selling, Newbery Medal-winning children’s novel is delightfully innocent and idealistic as it celebrates its hero’s sense of honor and love of reading and charts his companion’s discovery of the power of forgiveness. The DVD includes a whimsical making-of featurette; “Top Ten Uses for Oversized Ears”; games; and other interactive features. Spanish language and titles option.
A-I — general patronage. (G) (Universal Studios Home Video; also available on Blu-ray with many more bonus features) 2008
