In the early years of the 19th century, the Tuck family came upon a small spring in the woods in upstate New York. Unbeknownst to them, it was the fountain of youth - the water upon which Ponce de Leon had so aggressively sought. Drinking froze all four Tucks at their current ages. The parents, Mae and Angus (Sissy Spacek and William Hurt), remained middle-aged but spry, Miles (Scott Bairstow) was trapped in the prime of his life. And Jesse (Jonathan Jackson) was fated to exist through eternity in a 17-year body. No one asked the Tucks if they wanted to live forever. The first reaction of most people would be "What a blessing." Think about the price. It's not immediately apparent, but it is an unpleasant one. Never dying means never. The peace of the grave will forever be denied.
Nearly one hundred years later, on the eve of the United States' entrance into the Great War, a teenage girl, Winnie Foster (Alexis Bledel), stumbles upon the Tucks' house while running away from home. After living with the Tucks for a while, Winnie learns their secret. Meanwhile, she and Jesse fall in love. Then, she must face a choice - drink from the fountain and gain the promise of everlasting life and love with Jesse or refuse and live a normal span of human years. Circumstances present complications. Winnie's parents (Victor Garber and Amy Irving) are rich, and they are exerting considerable influence to find her. And a mysterious Man in a Yellow Suit (Ben Kingsley) knows the Tucks' secret, and is intent upon exploiting it.
The romantic aspect of Tuck Everlasting, which is clearly the element intent on attracting the pre-teen and teenage girls, is nicely developed. It follows the familar arc of the overprotected rich girl falling for the poor, freespirited boy (think Titantic). It's a pleasant, unforced love-story - one that sets up the characters so that the choices made have added weight. Immortality has more appeal when love is involved. Those enveloped in the pure magic of a motion picture love affair wish that things could last forever. And there's an innocence to the romance that is rarely found in the movies today. Long stares and kisses do not automatically lead to sex.
The question "Do you want to live forever" represents the film's true strength. We know from early in the proceedings that Winnie will have to choose - and it won't be easy. She is presented with both sides of the issue - Jesse revels in the possibilities of endless life while Angus cautions her that the Tucks don't really live anymore - they're like rocks near the side of the river watching the water stream by. Then there's Miles, whose tragic past has left him longing for the the death he can never have. Adult viewers probably won't mind the love story - it's sweet (although not cloyingly so) and inoffensive - but they will revel in the film's substantive philosophical underpinnings.
The film's star is 19-year old Alexis Bledel. Bledel gives a wonderfully nuanced performance, successfully conveying the uncertainty that rests upon Winnie's shoulders as she is forced to make her choice. Bledel also imbues Winnie with spunk and charisma - she's a tomboy at heart who has too long been imprisoned in a gilded cage. Jonathon Jackson doesn't display great acting chops, but he's the eye candy that young girls will swoon over. Sissy Spacek and William Hurt deliver solid support, and Ben Kingsley is wonderfully menacing as the film's mysterious stranger.
The movie is based on the novel by Natalie Babbit. It was also made into a 1980 film with a largely unknown cast. Not having read the book nor seen the earlier movie, I can't comment on how closely this feature follows its source material or the earlier incarnation. However, viewed on its own terms, this is a gently engaging and thought-provoking motion picture. Tuck Everlasting is suitable for children, but the material is designed more for those with longer attention spans. The cartoonish buffoonery and mindless action of many family films is entirely absent. Disney's live-action division has a history of releasing cinematic flotsam, but this is one occasion where they have made a timeless classic.
Porculus