Trumpet of the Swan

This animated adaptation of E. B. White's beloved book has the distinction of being the only G-rated family film of the summer. For non-discriminating parents, this may be enough, but for children who were captivated by Shrek and Atlantis, this "Swan" is one ugly duckling. Jason Alexander heads an undistinguished voice cast as a father swan distressed that his just-hatched son Louie, who he imagined would be "the greatest of all trumpeters," is mute. Louie is determined to find his voice, and he's befriended by a bird loving boy and fellow misfit, who takes Louie under his wing and brings him to school, where Louie learns to read and write. Unfortunately, Louie's father stages a desperate raid on a music store, lifting a trumpet for his son. Trying to raise money for his father to pay back the music store, Louie becomes an unlikely star under the exploitation of Monty (Joe Mantegna), a street hustler. There's no arguing such sentiments as, "if we try our very, very best, we can do anything we set our minds to," but the sub-TV-level animation never takes flight. Stick with the book. Not recommended. (K. Lee Benson)