Bridge to Terabithia

Based on Katherine Paterson's 1977 Newbery Award-winning novel, Bridge to Terabithia is a heart-wrenching love story about the attraction between two young outsiders: fifth-grader Jesse (Josh Hutcherson), an imaginative aspiring artist ignored by his four sisters and neglected by his financially shaky parents, and new girl in town Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb), the only child of well-to-do writer parents who encourage their daughter's creative flights of fancy and don't even own a TV. Together, the kids escape from the pressures of the real world by making regular excursions to a forest Leslie dubs "Terabithia," a world inhabited by creatures born of their imaginations. But the fantasy element isn't the dominant theme here—in fact, first-time live-action director Gabor Csupo (known for his work on The Simpsons and Rugrats) keeps the computer graphics to a minimum—instead, the film focuses on the struggle of its youthful protagonists with family and social issues. A charming, bittersweet drama, this is recommended. [Note: Available in either widescreen or full screen versions, DVD extras include two audio commentaries (one with director Gabor Csupo, screenwriter Jeff Stockwell, and producer Hal Lieberman; the other with producer Lauren Levine and costars Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb), a 15-minute “Behind the Book: The Themes of Bridge to Terabithia” featurette, “Digital Imagination: Bringing Terabithia to Life” (6 min.), the “Keep Your Mind Wide Open” music video performed by Robb, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a solid family film.] (E. Hulse)