Charlotte’s Web Parent Guide
Generations of fans, who have previously relied on their imagination to bring this radiant book to life, should be pleasantly impressed by the efforts of the filmmakers.
Parent Movie Review
A perfectly ordinary farming community suddenly becomes perfectly extraordinary, thanks to the arrival of a not quite ordinary pig. Yet on the wet and stormy night the little runt enters the world, only young Fern (Dakota Fanning) recognizes his potential.
Born the smallest of a large litter, practically-minded Mr. Arable (Kevin Anderson) prepares to mercifully end the doomed creature’s life until his twelve-year-old daughter intervenes by promising to care for the squealing bundle herself. But as Fern bottle-feeds and names the baby Wilbur, her maternal affection becomes a new problem. Knowing the pink porker will grow only to be slaughtered at a later time, Fern’s worried mother (Essie Davis) tries to prepare her child for the inevitable. The first step in this process is to distance the pair by moving the pet pig to the Zuckerman’s barn across the road.
Fern adjusts to the new arrangement by trying to visit as often as possible, while wee Wilbur (voiced by Dominic Scott Kay) soothes the sting of the separation by focusing on the excitement of having a barnyard full of new animals to associate with. Unfortunately, Samuel the sheep (voice of John Cleese), Gussy and Golly Geese (Oprah Winfrey and Cedric the Entertainer) cows Bitsy and Betsy (Kathy Bates and Reba McEntire) and the old workhorse Ike (Robert Redford), know there is just one reason farmers keep pigs, so none of them are very eager to invest in a short-term relationship. Only Charlotte (Julia Roberts), a spider whose society is also shunned due to her much-maligned species, is willing to befriend the lonely and hopelessly optimistic piglet.
As acceptance and appreciation develop between the two misfits, their sense of affection eventually spread to all of their fellow farm family, including a usually self-centered rat named Templeton (Steve Buscemi). Together they determine to keep Wilbur from the fate of the smokehouse—although it is Charlotte’s clever web work that holds out the best prospects for his future longevity. Soon the news of Charlotte’s amazing spiderly talents, which transform Wilbur into “some pig,” begins to change the mundane perspective of the humans in the surrounding world too.
Staying true to the heart of its inspirational novel (penned by E.B. White), this Charlotte’s Web spins a tale of love and sacrifice sure to tickle viewers. Although the plot revolves around Wilbur’s life hanging by a thread, his perilous situation never threatens the warmth of the story. Besides these verbal euphemisms, the other few concerns consist of some name-calling, flatulence jokes, slapstick violence (involving the rat and a couple of hungry crows), a mild expletive and two young characters that hold hands.
Generations of fans, who have previously relied on their imagination to bring this radiant book to life, should be pleasantly impressed by the efforts of the filmmakers. Their creativity—with the help of a good portion of CGI effects—has transformed this extraordinary story into an equally extraordinary live-action feature, making this beloved children’s classic into “some movie.”
Starring Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, Thomas Haden Church. Theatrical release December 14, 2006. Updated July 17, 2017About author
Charlotte’s Web
Rating & Content Info
Why is Charlotte’s Web rated G? Charlotte’s Web is rated G by the MPAA
>
Young Fern volunteers to become the mother of a runt-sized piglet when she sees her father pick up an axe that he intends to use on the animal. The rest of the plot centers on Wilbur avoiding the usual fate of domestic pigs, although the threat is implied rather than discussed or shown. The barnyard animals establish their pecking order through name-calling and some flatulence/belching jokes—one mild expletive is heard. Some comedic crows looking for food threaten a rat’s life—slapstick antics ensue. A spider explains how she sucks the blood out of insects for food. A twelve-year-old girl and boy hold hands. Some children are also shown riding in the back of a pick-up truck.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Charlotte’s Web Parents' Guide
What does the doctor say to Mrs. Arable’s concerns over her daughter’s preoccupation with Wilbur and the other farm animals? Do you agree with his diagnosis? Are you saddened by his prognosis? How does his council help the worried mother see the miraculous in life’s simple things?
Why didn’t the other barn residents like Charlotte? Why didn’t Wilbur feel the same way? How can appearances and preconceived notions affect one’s perspective? What helped the farm animals change their point of view?
How do Charlotte and Fern feel about keeping promises? Why does the spider say it was her “great pleasure” to help Wilbur? What did the pig give to Charlotte that she so highly valued? Although Charlotte uses the word “humble” to describe Wilbur, whom else does it describe?
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Charlotte’s Web movie is April 2, 2007. Here are some details…
Blu-ray Release:
Charlotte’s Web releases on Blu-ray on March 29, 2011.
DVD Release Date: 3 April 2007
Charlotte’s Web spins its magic on DVD with seven featurettes, a collection of deleted scenes, and a gag reel. There is also a storybook creator, a demo of the Charlotte’s Web Sega Game and the music video for Ordinary Miracle, performed by Sarah McLachlan. Audio tracks are available in English (Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) and French (Dolby Digital 5.1), with subtitles in English and Spanish.
Related home video titles:
Dakota Fanning, who plays Fern, took on a similar role as a farm girl who pleads with her father not to kill an injured race horse in the movie Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story. The plight of another young pig, who is trying to avoid becoming Christmas dinner, is told in the film Babe. An animated version of Charlotte’s Web was created in 1973.
