Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson

The tale of three unlikely heroes - a misfit mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflow...( read more  read more... )er ears - whose fates are intertwined with that of the castle's princess.

Flixster Users

47% liked it

153,777 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

105 critics

G, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Sam Fell, Rob Stevenhagen

Release Date: December 19, 2008

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DVD Release Date: April 7, 2009

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Stats: 7,623 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (7,623)


  • May 10, 2009
    Nothing special but still enjoyable while on a 8 hour plane ride.
  • April 26, 2009
    Charming animated fairytale with beautifully rendered settings and solid voice acting.
  • April 19, 2009
    Aaawww, what a cute little guy with his huge ears. This was actually pretty cute. A little long for an animated movie, but cute. The Voice cast was great, kinda fun to listen them all and figure who's who. The story itself was ok, nothing spectacular. But overall a really good fa...( read more)mily film. Give it a try!
  • April 14, 2009
    In a post-Ratatouille world, an animated film about rodents and fine cuisine is the exact opposite of original. The rodent worlds are painted with flair and invention, but the characters - with the noble exception of Watson's princess - are as dull as dishwater.
  • April 12, 2009
    Animated fantasy from Universal Studios about how the lives of a mouse, a rat, a servant girl and a princess intertwine within a dispirited kingdom. Features beautiful animation. Unfortunately the story is a chaotic mess that juggles multiple characters and shifting story lines...( read more), unsuccessfully. What should have been a sweet, whimsical story to watch, feels like a labored, heavy handed chore.
  • November 18, 2009
    Not particularly adventurous or daring, nor romantic or funny, this film is a wonderfully scripted, acted, and animated childrens' film. I say it is for children because while it is a family film, its simple straightforward story carries in it murky morality tales and is thus ve...( read more)ry much slanted toward children viewers. Additionally, I felt character information about some of the supporting cast was missing. Yes the information wasn't incredibly necessary, but it some things (like a magical being made of vegetables?!) would have made infinitely more sense.
  • November 17, 2009
    VERY DISAPPOINTING, that is not good at all, it's pretty boring actually. No words to describe how disapointing I was after the movie was finished. The story is not really good so as the ending, the princess is not beautiful at all there's a lach of originality there is certain p...( read more)arts where it seems like those who made the movie didn't know what to do so they filled it up with some not really good idea , but the art direction is really great, nice colors and animations... my final word is WHATEVER.
  • November 15, 2009
    This flick was boring most of the time and scattered the rest. None of the characters were developed beyond the surface level except for the rat who started the whole thing. With the story jumping around from place to place and never really coming to any sort of satisfying conc...( read more)lusion. The animation was ok but it seemed like they worked the hardest on one or two of the characters looks and then the rest of the folks were just given a quick pass in the design department.
    In the end I felt that this was a very forgettable movie.
  • November 9, 2009
    I was expecting more.
  • November 7, 2009
    Average compared to other animated films.

Critic Reviews


December 19, 2008
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Despereaux is a little too desperate to be loved. full review

December 19, 2008
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Somber, slow and elegant instead of frantic and dazzling. It works like a beloved fairy tale. full review

December 19, 2008
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Flat-footed when it should be fleet, scary when it means to be exciting, and only intermittently emotionally effective, The Tale of Despereaux does a disservice to Kate DiCamillo's well-regarded child... full review

December 19, 2008
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Like the old adage about too many cooks, The Tale of Despereaux is full of ideas, but the combination is more perturbing than satisfying. full review

December 19, 2008
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News

The film dispenses entirely with the bathroom humor that has become a standard element in so much kids entertainment. full review

December 19, 2008
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

The film is full of charm, wit and pictorial panache. full review

December 18, 2008
Bob Mondello, NPR.org

The Tale Of Despereaux may be a little slow for the very youngest kids — though the messages it imparts are certainly ones you'll want them to hear. full review

December 18, 2008
Bob Mondello, NPR

The Tale Of Despereaux may be a little slow for the very youngest kids — though the messages it imparts are certainly ones you'll want them to hear. full review

December 18, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

While the story does not quite come to magical life, the themes of courage, hope and decency are sweetly inspiring. full review

December 18, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Tale of Despereaux is one of the most beautifully drawn animated films I've seen, rendered in enchanting detail and painterly colors by an art department headed by Oliver Adam. full review

View more The Tale of Despereaux reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • grasshoper1985
    December 17, 2008
    When this Movie will Arrive to Indonesia???Wanna see this movie!!! it will help me to write my script...
  • xxhisgoldeneyes
    September 20, 2008
    The book was good so I'm pretty sure I'll like the movie.Emma Watson's a good actor so that's a plus :]
  • senoritabrad87
    September 6, 2008
    is another type of movie is about rat...i think this century people like to bring out the mouse story...and it is good to me cause i'm a hugh fan of the mouse thing, eg. micky mouse "love it all the time".this movie is one of my favorite n can't wait cartoon mouse movie in this yr,.well done guys..
  • petielilix
    May 4, 2008
    i loved the book, and i love emma watson, so im sure i'll love the movie too!!

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The Tale of Despereaux Trivia


  • Who does the voice of Princess Pea in "The Tale of Despereaux"?  Answer »
  • Who voices the title character in "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008)?  Answer »
  • Who was the royal head Chief in The Tale Of Despereaux ?  Answer »
  • Who voice is used for Roscuro in The Tale Of Despereaux ?  Answer »

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