The Trumpet of the Swan (2001)

15% of critics liked it
(41 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(3,059 ratings)

E.B. White's children's story of a swan searching for his voice comes to life in this animated adventure. When young Louie the Swan is hatched, it's soon discovered that he isn't able to make a sound, which is a matter of no small annoyance to his boastful father (voice of Jason Alexander) and… More E.B. White's children's story of a swan searching for his voice comes to life in this animated adventure. When young Louie the Swan is hatched, it's soon discovered that he isn't able to make a sound, which is a matter of no small annoyance to his boastful father (voice of Jason Alexander) and doting mother (voice of Mary Steenburgen). As Louie gets a bit older, he falls in love with Serena (voice of Reese Witherspoon), but he has no way of telling her how he feels. Despondent, Louie flies away, and makes friends with a young boy named Sam (voice of Sam Gifaldi). Sam realizes Louie has a problem, and with the help of his schoolteacher, Mrs. Hammerbotham (Carol Burnett), Louie learns to read and write. Louie is thrilled that he has finally found a way to communicate, but his joy is short-lived when he discovers his fellow swans are not well acquainted with the English language. At long last, Louie finds a way to speak in a way his family and fellows can understand when his father gives him a trumpet; while Louie is thrilled and shows a remarkable gift for the instrument, his dad's happiness is diluted by the fact that the horn is stolen merchandise. Determined to pay for the stolen trumpet and make his family proud, Louie flies away to the big city, where he lands a lucrative gig playing with a jazz combo. At last, Louie has found fame, fortune, and self-respect, but can he win the heart of Serena away from her fiancé, Boyd (Seth Green)? The score for The Trumpet of the Swan was written by noted jazz artist Marcus Miller; rock & roll pioneer Little Richard also contributed a song to the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 15 min.
Directed By: Richard Rich, Terry Noss
Written By: E B White, Judy Rothman Rofe
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: May 11, 2001 Limited
On DVD: Jul 31, 2001
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Ty Burr, Entertainment Weekly
Features charmless songs, junky animation, hambone voice talent.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Too bad the director didn't set his mind to making a film parents could enjoy, too.
Jan Stuart, Newsday
Passable animation for the younger members of the family, but the movie never finds its own voice.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
One ugly duckling of a cartoon.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
A shallow, tacky, finally soupy revision of a wry, noticing, resonant, elegant, deeply romantic story.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
The movie leeches from the book most of what makes the story wonderful: The sly humour and the occasional dark edge that keeps the inherent sweetness on the safe side of sentimentality.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A good family movie; much to enjoy and talk about.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Its catalogue of atrocity is so variegated and pungent that to list them all would be more effort than has in fact gone into the film's production
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
This is one worth missing in the hopes that some day, someone will do it a whole lot better.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
A rushed direct-to-video kiddie flick.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
"Trumpet of the Swan" features flat background art, some poor sound syncing and insipid, sugary songs.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
One of the weakest kids' films in recent memory.
Luisa F. Ribeiro, Boxoffice Magazine
Shallowness of characterization and unmemorable songs.
Frank Lovece, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This adaptation of E.B. White's classic novel doesn't even live up to the Hanna-Barbera Charlotte's Web, let alone 1999's Stuart Little.