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Trumpet of the Swan (2001)
Tomatometer
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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
Reviews for Trumpet of the Swan
This is one worth missing in the hopes that some day, someone will do it a whole lot better.
"Trumpet of the Swan" features flat background art, some poor sound syncing and insipid, sugary songs.
Too bad the director didn't set his mind to making a film parents could enjoy, too.
This adaptation of E.B. White's classic novel doesn't even live up to the Hanna-Barbera Charlotte's Web, let alone 1999's Stuart Little.
While the message of the story sings loud and clear, the drama plays out at a whisper.
May hold the attention of the very young, but despite marginal attempts at Disney-style cleverness, the simplistic writing, flat animation and sloppy direction will leave adults bored.
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