Film Review - Because of Winn-Dixie Film Review

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House review of Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

I wish I could say I have read the novel Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. I should read it; I have a thing about seeing films before I’ve read the books. Films are too often used as substitutes for books, when in truth they can’t compete in any sense. But I’ll save that rant for another review, because it’s not the point of my regret in this case. I regret not having read the book because this film is so beautifully made that I can only imagine that the book—if it is better than the film-- is stunning.

Newcomer AnnaSophia Robb plays young Opal, a minister’s daughter who tries to find her place in a new town. She is hampered by her emotionally damaged father and the constraints of poverty (though she always manages to be very nicely dressed). A shaggy dog, the eponymous Winn-Dixie, miraculously appears in her life, and she is able to make friends with some other oddball types—a spinster librarian, an ex-con pet store attendant, a cantankerous trailer park manager, and a recovering alcoholic blind woman.

I don’t know (because I haven’t read the book) how necessary that dog is to the plot, but in this film he is a pain, and I wish he would go away. Every time the character interactions get interesting, every time some intriguing shift is about to occur, that stupid dog runs through the set knocking things over and taking us away from the truly compelling pieces of the story. I’m not a big fan of the dog-buddy sub-genre, and I find people much more interesting than animals, so I really feel that this is one dog movie that could have done without the dog. However, it must be noted that of the four children who accompanied me to this film, three of them felt that the dog was the very best thing, not only in the film but in the entire world (the fourth child spent his time out in the lobby with his daddy, running in circles and flapping his arms like a penguin) (don’t ask).

Young Miss Robb is a strong enough screen presence to carry this film. She offers us charm, sweetness, angst, fear, curiosity and anger with such skill and depth that there’s never a moment when I don’t believe in her. I would have liked to see more of her and less of the dog. She was supported by a strong cast of character actors, including Jeff Daniels in a solid performance as her father, The Preacher, Eva Marie Saint, Cicely Tyson, and Dave Matthews. The veteran actors, Daniels, Saint, and Tyson, did very nicely with roles that couldn’t have been the most challenging of their lives. Still, being the professionals that they are, they were present and strong in them. But special mention goes to the other newcomer of the film, musician Dave Matthews. His performance, as the guitar-playing ex-con Otis who gives Opal a part time job at the pet store, was understated and complex, hinting at layers of pain and hope, perhaps deeply hidden, but there in spite of himself. You can’t go wrong with Daniels, Saint, and Tyson, but this film made me want to see a whole lot more of Robb and Matthews.
My only criticism, besides the dog, is the portrayal of the police in this film. I don’t know if it was inherent in the book, or if it was a choice made by director Wayne Wang, but the only truly shallow and ridiculous character in the film was the deputy sheriff, played by Harland Williams, who personified all the worst stereotypes of the southern lawman. We also hear Otis’ story of how the police treated him brutally. Another review says it this way: “I deplore painting the police, who are supposed to be protecting us, as people to be loathed and feared to impressionable children.” (Tony Medley, www.tonymedley.com). I am with Mr. Medley in this matter. I don’t know why the police are considered to be such an easy or appropriate target for this kind of treatment, but I feel strongly that that should not be encouraged.

Still, I’m sure we’ll buy the DVD. This film is wholesome, entertaining, and beautifully made. And if it’s not perfect, well, that just gives us more to talk about with the kids.

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