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Movies / On DVD / Trumpet of the Swan
Trumpet of the Swan

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Trumpet of the Swan (2001)

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Reviews Counted:40

Fresh:5

Rotten:35

Average Rating:3.4/10

Consensus: An uninspired E.B. White adaptation that's targeted at the very young.

Runtime: 75 mins

Genre: Childrens

Synopsis: Young mute trumpeter swan Louie yearns to have a voice. He leaves his family's nest to learn to read and write in order to express himself. After befriending a young schoolboy named Sam, Louie... Young mute trumpeter swan Louie yearns to have a voice. He leaves his family's nest to learn to read and write in order to express himself. After befriending a young schoolboy named Sam, Louie learns to communicate and returns home with a chalkboard on which he writes messages for communication--but then decides that learning the trumpet would truly allow him to express himself. After Louie's father (voiced by SEINFELD's Jason Alexander) steals a trumpet for him, Louie must pay for it to restore his father's honor. He then sets out to become a world-class trumpeter, demonstrating the importance of expressing one's self. This delightful musical was based on the classic childrens' book by E.B. White (STUART LITTLE, CHARLOTTE'S WEB). [More]

Starring: Jason Alexander, Mary Steenburgen, Reese Witherspoon, Seth Green

Starring: Jason Alexander, Mary Steenburgen, Reese Witherspoon, Seth Green, Carol Burnett

Director: Richard Rich, Terry Noss

Director: Richard Rich, Terry Noss
Screenwriter: Judy Rothman Rofe
Story: E. B. White
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Trumpet of the Swan

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

This is one worth missing in the hopes that some day, someone will do it a whole lot better.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
07/30/01
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

The animation is unimaginative and uninspiring.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment Comment
05/10/01
Malcolm Ritter
Malcolm Ritter
Associated Press

Too bad the director didn't set his mind to making a film parents could enjoy, too.

comment Comment
05/14/01
Jay Carr
Jay Carr
Boston Globe

Shallowness of characterization and unmemorable songs.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
05/14/01
Luisa F. Ribeiro
Luisa F. Ribeiro
Boxoffice Magazine

An innocuous family feature that's too little/too late in the fast-moving world of feature animation.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
05/11/01
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A lame duck.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
05/10/01
Loren King
Loren King
Chicago Tribune

The music, an eclectic blend of jazz and contemporary music, is one of the film's strongest calling cards.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
05/10/01
Nancy Churnin
Nancy Churnin
Dallas Morning News
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News | comment Comment
08/09/02
Robert Denerstein
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News

One of the weakest kids' films in recent memory.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
05/18/01
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Well-meaning but wholly forgettable.

comment Comment
05/10/01
Terry Lawson
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press

A shallow, tacky, finally soupy revision of a wry, noticing, resonant, elegant, deeply romantic story.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
05/11/01
Susan Stark
Susan Stark
Detroit News

Despite the strong cast of voices behind the drawings, the most important one -- that of White -- is ultimately missing.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
05/10/01
E! Online

No review available.

comment Comment
08/11/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Features charmless songs, junky animation, hambone voice talent.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
05/17/01
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
05/28/01
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

An unmemorable feature-length cartoon destined for a quick trip to video shelves.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
05/02/01
Daniel Eagan
Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Film Threat

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

Though colorful and well-meaning, Trumpet of the Swan collapses as an emotional experience, its restless script unable to build a resonance of feeling that can lift the audience collectively.

comment Comment
05/10/01
Tom Keogh
Tom Keogh
Film.com

A rushed direct-to-video kiddie flick.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
06/27/01
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
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