Tuck Everlasting, the latest from Walt Disney Pictures, is based on the book of the same name and is also the second time that it has been made into a movie. The story takes place in 1914.
It is about a fifteen-year-old girl named Winifred (or Winnie). She comes from a well-to-do family; but she feels stifled because of her oppresive, rich-girl upbringing. Upon being told that she will be forced to go to some horrible boarding school, she finally decides to run away from home. As she walks through the woods, she meets a seemingly nervous boy named Jesse Tuck. They are suddenly interrupted by Jesse's brother Miles who, mysteriously enough, grabs Winnie, puts her on his horse, and takes her off to the Tuck family's modest dwellings. His reason for doing so is that the Tucks have a mysterious secret that must be carefully kept. (I won't say what it is; but if you've seen the preview, you already know.)
Tuck Everlasting had a lot more depth than most other movies Disney churns out. It deals with questions of mortality and of the all too natural necessity of death. (Again, I can't get into specifics for the sake of those who don't know much about the movie's plot.) Characters are faced with the chance of living forever and staying forever young, but Jesse's father gives some words of wisdom: "Do not fear death; fear the unlived life." Change is a necessary part of humanity; to live without change is to not live at all. We may not want to die, but we must. It's part of our state as humans. (These themes are further highlighted by a Christian funernal scene in which the minister expresses hope in living forever in the next life "through our Lord Jesus Christ.")
The ending of the movie is really the culmination of the movie's theme. It actually somewhat reminded me of the ending of Spider-Man in that it was sad and yet gratifying. It took a departure from most typical Hollywood love stories. It pointed to something higher than two teenagers too infatuated with each other to care about anything else (this is also where it reminded me of Spider-Man). Overall, it was very well-done and is definitely one of the movie's stronger points.
Tuck Everlasting is an interesting and thought-provoking movie. It is also appropriate for almost all ages (the youngest may find it a little scary; there's also some brief kissing). It deserves a place next to The Rookie and Lilo & Stitch as Disney's three consecutive successes of the year. |
