Bridge to Terabithia is classified a fantasy adventure based on a very popular childrens book, but it is an adventure that never leaves reality while the adventure is in your mind.

How many family films have you been stuck in where you get the typical 10 minutes of character development and then the main characters leave on a journey of magic and surprises in a world that doesn’t exist?  This movie does not do that to you.   Even the smallest of surprises such as the name are answered at the end of the story.

If you go into Bridge To Terabithia with the notion of what I outline above will happen, you will be mistaken and perhaps let down if it is what you expect and need. 

The story is magical, there is a journey, but it is more sincere and heartfelt than any of Hollywood’s recent flock of family films meant to knock off the Lord of the Rings style.

The journey is present day were a young boy named Jess (played by Josh Hutcherson) is coming of age.  Jess learns of true friendship.  He learns to appreciate who he really is.  He learns to be assertive.  He learns to stand up for himself and others.  He learns to respect and be there for others. 

And he even comes to terms with the greatest of losses in a lifetime. 

Despite Jess being a truly creative artist with his drawings, he meets a new friend Leslie that opens his mind to fantasy.  Leslie is played by AnnaSophia Robb whom played Violet in the remake of the original Willy Wonka story, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”  Both Josh and AnnaSophia are blindingly great actors in this story.  Special effects take a back seat to the acting and story and they further the point with endearing performances.  In one scene their friendship has developed to a point of understanding that you see her turn to him as they are walking down a dirt road and you say to yourself, “They’ve just become best friends for life.  She’s his soul mate.”  It is rare two actors are so convincing as friends.   The cinematography is also outstanding.  In one early scene they are swinging on a rope looking to the sky and imagining they are flying.  In that moment you not only are swept up by the genuine look in their faces, you believe they are imagining themselves flying and happy for the moment they escaped.

I saw this movie with my two sons.  It was NOT what I expected, but it was what we all needed.  It was a challenge for my 4 year old son to watch because the story had depth that any adult would appreciate.  But any 4 year old would enjoy the entire journey.  My ten year old undoubtlably identified with the main character whom felt somewhat an outsider in his own family, only to find out later we all feel like outsiders from time-to-time. I saw in his parents what I too felt was happening in my own life.  I think any parent would identify with the parents in the story.   These elements in the story fused the journey into an honestly believable story that made fantasy a place in this story you almost felt didn’t belong.

One thing that I really enjoyed about Bridge to Terabithia is the emphasis on appreciation for the arts.  From music and drawing to writing itself.  We are all creative creatures. We can’t all paint or sing, but we can do something.  Some of us write to express ourselves.  We can all express ourselves artistically and this story seemed to celebrate it in an understated optimistic way.  

I should note one of my favorite actresses Zooey Deschanel played a supporting part that was also well performed.  She has played comedy and drama with precision to date and I look forward to seeing her in more movies. I think what makes Zooey so appealing as an actress is she accepts her femininity and celebrates being a woman and the special qualities only women can display in character.  Her sister Emily seems to have the same screen presence and I’m sure Hollywood will tap into her talents eventually too.

Based on the book Bridge to Terabithia originally written by author Katherine Paterson, it is a story she wrote for a compelling reason.  One that if I were to reveal in this review would in fact be a spoiler to the story itself.   I honestly suggest looking her up on the Internet after you have read the book or watched the movie or you will be doing yourself a grave injustice.

One more note, there was another version released in the 80's and it is a testimony that good books can be turned in to trash when interpreted into a movie without equally good screenwriting.  Can you imagine the Lord of the Ring with campy dialogue?  Guess who the screen writer is?  The author's son, David Paterson.