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Reviews

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Poignant enough

By BROOKE HOLGERSON | February 13, 2008

2.5 Stars

Freddie Highmore

Based on the popular children’s-book series and directed by Mark Waters, the film version of The Spiderwick Chronicles centers on the three Grace siblings and their interactions — some friendly, some potentially deadly — with fairies and goblins. Freddie Highmore plays both of the identical-twin Graces, Jared and Simon (Sarah Bolger is sister Mallory), and he gives them separate identities, Simon nerdy, Jared angry over his parents’ impending divorce. That divorce and, more specifically, the relationships between unreliable fathers and their children play a central role, the Grace kids’ family life overlapping with and echoed by their supernatural adventure. It’s all handled with a deft touch, giving the film a poignance that balances nicely with the PG-level action. 97 minutes | Boston Common + Fenway + Fresh Pond + Circle + suburbs

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Topics: Reviews , Freddie Highmore, Mark Waters

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