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How to Eat Fried Worms

An undercooked adaptation

By BRETT MICHEL | August 23, 2006

1.5 Stars

Walden Media, those pillagers of children’s classics (The Chronicles of Narnia, December’s Charlotte’s Web) and not-so-classics (Holes, Hoot), continue to mine for the box-office dollars of the boomer set. This time, they dig deep into the mud, unearthing the creepy-crawlers of Thomas Rockwell’s perennial gross-out, and, no surprise, they emerged soiled. Having read the book in grade school, I have vague recollections of a daring young gourmand who’s obliged to dine on 15 worms in 15 days. In Bob Dolman’s film, 11-year-old Billy (Luke Benward of Walden’s Because ofWinn-Dixie) must consume 10 invertebrates over a 24-hour period. So much for fidelity to the original. Desperate to fit in during his first day at a new school, “Worm-Boy” is challenged by resident bully Joe (Adam Hicks) and befriended by outcast tomboy Erika (Hallie Kate Eisenberg). Kids may devour the viscid fare; parents will likely blanch before this undercooked adaptation.

On the Web
How to Eat Fried Worms's official Web site:http://friedwormsmovie.com/

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More Information

Watch the trailer for How to Eat Fried Worms (QuickTime)

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