The A.O. Scott Review of Charlotte' Web

There's been a bit of debate as to whether or not we should all plunk down our shiny quarters and visit the Cineplex for a viewing of Hollywood's latest take on a children's literature classic. I am referring, of course, to Charlotte's Web. Is it great or is it awful? Are there still fart jokes? What's the deal?

Credit Monica Edinger for showing me A.O. Scott's recent review of the film in the New York Times. She pointed out the following statement in Mr. Scott's review which I just have to put here as it shows, to some extent, that the man is familiar with the original text.

And “Charlotte’s Web” is a sneakily sophisticated fable. White certainly appreciated the joys of life on the farm (while evading some of its bloodier aspects), but the book is really about the benevolent, even miraculous power of celebrity. It is, most simply, the story of a spider, Charlotte A. Cavitica, who saves the life of a pig named Wilbur by making him famous. She is a gifted writer whose chosen genre is what we might now call the pull quote — her oeuvre consists of the words “terrific,” “radiant,” “some pig” and, in a stroke of public relations genius, “humble,” all emblazoned in webbing for the world to see. Charlotte is a self-effacing manufacturer of celebrity. An eight-legged flack. It’s not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good publicist.

Twenty points to Mr. Scott for the phrase "eight-legged flack".