There's no denying that Charlotte's Web has a target audience, and that target is young children. Everything in the film is quite simple and wholesome. Wilbur is a very childlike protagonist, and that means that often things have to be over-explained to him as you would to a child. I bet this would drive me crazy if not for the fact that I saw it first when I was a kid myself. In fact, I think this movie might have been responsible for teaching me about death, because I never experienced anyone close to me dying when I was young. Watching it now, I can't say I was impressed by the story. It's kind of laughable how the people act, and I could easily nitpick the logic of certain things. But it still hit some nostalgia buttons and I could see how this type of story was effective for kids like me back in the day.
One of the biggest highlights in the film, that still holds up to this day, is the vocal cast. Using people like Henry Gibson, Paul Lynde, and Agnes Moorehead gave the farm animals distinctive and fun personalities. There are a bunch of familiar voices from that era that show up in this film, and they make this more than a cheap Disney wannabe. I also enjoy some of the music. While there are a few duds that have the same sleepy qualities as a lullaby, I would gladly add tunes like Chin Up and A Veritable Smorgasbord to a Spotify playlist. I doubt I will ever seek out Charlotte's Web again, though. It's a charming movie and one that I think should hold up for young kids even to this day. However, as a grown man with no kids of my own, I am content in the fact that Charlotte's Web played a part in my development as a child and I can leave it to my memories.
One of the biggest highlights in the film, that still holds up to this day, is the vocal cast. Using people like Henry Gibson, Paul Lynde, and Agnes Moorehead gave the farm animals distinctive and fun personalities. There are a bunch of familiar voices from that era that show up in this film, and they make this more than a cheap Disney wannabe. I also enjoy some of the music. While there are a few duds that have the same sleepy qualities as a lullaby, I would gladly add tunes like Chin Up and A Veritable Smorgasbord to a Spotify playlist. I doubt I will ever seek out Charlotte's Web again, though. It's a charming movie and one that I think should hold up for young kids even to this day. However, as a grown man with no kids of my own, I am content in the fact that Charlotte's Web played a part in my development as a child and I can leave it to my memories.