Search - Tuck Everlasting on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 02/25/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 30 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Fantasy, Children's/Family, Children's Fantasy, Coming-of-Age

Natalie Babbitt's award winning book for children comes to the screen in a lavish adaptation from Walt Disney Pictures. Winnie Foster (Alexis Bledel) is a girl in her early teens growing up in the small rural town of Winesap in 1914. Winnie's parents (Victor Garber and Amy Irving) are loving but overprotective, and Winnie longs for a life of greater freedom and adventure. One day, while exploring the nearby woods, Winnie gets lost, but she has the good fortune to happen upon the Tuck Family, who live nearby - mother Mae (Sissy Spacek), father Angus (William Hurt), and sons Jesse (Jonathan Jackson) and Miles (Scott Bairstow). The Tucks are warm and caring people, and Winnie feels right at home with them; she also finds herself developing a serious crush on Jesse, and isn't so sure she wants to return; meanwhile, her parents become increasingly distraught as they search for their missing daughter. But in time Winnie discovers there's a secret behind the seemingly idyllic lives of the Tuck Family; they have discovered a magical spring on their property, and anyone who drinks from it will never grow old and never die. While to Winnie this sounds like a wonderful prospect, the Tucks have come to understand this is as much of a curse as a blessing, especially when she realizes Jesse is considerably older than she is. The Tucks also have to contend with the presence of the sinister Man In The Yellow Suit (Ben Kingsley), who wishes to buy their property and make a fortune from their "fountain of youth." Tuck Everlasting was directed by Jay Russell, who previously directed the acclaimed family film My Dog Skip. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Alexis Bledel - Winnie Foster
William Hurt - Angus Tuck
Sissy Spacek - Mae Tuck
Scott Bairstow - Miles Tuck
Ben Kingsley - Man in the Yellow Suit

Completely passed over in the theaters, Disney's wonderful Tuck Everlasting gets a second chance on home video. Image quality here, with a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, is simply gorgeous. The beautiful scenery and earth tones used throughout are wonderfully reproduced with this transfer. Detail is strong and skin tones are perfect. The 5.1 English Dolby Digital soundtrack isn't exactly spacious, but there is some limited use of separation in the front speakers, especially in regard to William Ross' lush musical score. Dialogue and sound effects are clear and distortion free, with no distracting elements. Supplements aren't necessarily extensive here, but there are still a number of nice extras geared more to adults than children. A real surprise is not one, but two audio commentaries. The first is from director Jay Russell and screenwriter James Hart, with the second comprised of Russell again and cast members Jonathan Jackson, Alexis Bledel, and Scott Bairstow. Both scene-specific tracks give each participant plenty of time to voice their opinions, views, philosophies, and memories. In addition to this are "Lessons of Tuck," brief segments hosted by Jackson that look at different issues raised in the film, with additional interviews with the cast, crew, and a number of teens. These optional segments interrupt the film, then take you right back to the where you originally were. A real plus here is an all too brief biographical featurette on writer Natalie Babbitt, who has many interesting comments on this book and her writing. Finally, are a number of Disney-related trailers (including Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion, and commercials). ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide