Because of Winn Dixie
A Film Review By Clyde Ayles
A DOG'S TALE
'First let me start by saying that I am a sucker for a kid with a dog/cat story. I had very misty eyes at "My Dog Skip". I cried when they shot "old Yeller". Now comes Winn-Dixie, a very nice doggy who is taken in by a little girl who finds him running loose in a food market called Winn- Dixie, thus the name. The little girl, 10 year old Opal (newcomer ANNASOPHIA ROBB) is new in her small town where her father (JEFF DANIELS) is the new preacher. This town is so small they hold services in an old mini market. They live in a trailer park where pets are not allowed, so when Opal rescues the dog from the market, where the manager is about to have him sent to the pound, you know that the park landlord tells her she can't keep him. Also in this little town we meet an eccentric librarian (EVA MARIE SAINT), the typical old recluse who the kids call the "witch" (CICELY TYSON) and the pet shop helper (DAVE MATTHEWS) who serenades the animals with his guitar playing. We learn that Opal's mother just walked out on her and dad. So they moved to this town to meet new people, but Opal is finding that this is not easy . There are the twin boys who had their heads shaved when one of them had bugs. There is the little blond girl who is always sucking her knuckles. But one night they all get together at a party at the old lady's house. Everything is going well until a thunderstorm comes up. Now Winn-Dixie is frightened of thunder, so guess what happens. Right! He runs away. Everyone goes looking for him. Do they find him? See the movie. Anna Sophia Robb is talented enough, but she never has the ability to convince me she is the sad little girl she is supposed to be. Looking at her, she reminded me of a very young Jodie Foster. The dog is cute and well trained to tug at your heart, but he never really pulls it off. He is no Skip or Benji. Ms Tyson is the best performer in the film, It was directed by WAYNE WANG (The Joy Luck Club). SEE YA AT THE MOVIES CLYDE
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© 2005 Clyde Ayles
