Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Simon Callow | ... | Grasshopper (voice) | |
Richard Dreyfuss | ... | Centipede (voice) | |
Jane Leeves | ... | Ladybug (voice) | |
Joanna Lumley | ... | Aunt Spiker | |
Miriam Margolyes | ... | Aunt Sponge / Glowworm (voice) | |
Pete Postlethwaite | ... | Old Man | |
Susan Sarandon | ... | Spider (voice) | |
![]() |
Paul Terry | ... | James |
David Thewlis | ... | Earthworm (voice) | |
![]() |
J. Stephen Coyle | ... | Reporter #2 |
Steven Culp | ... | James' Father | |
![]() |
Cirocco Dunlap | ... | Girl with Telescope |
![]() |
Michael Girardin | ... | Reporter #1 |
Tony Haney | ... | Reporter #3 | |
Kathryn Howell | ... | Woman in Bathrobe (as Kathrine Howell) |
James' happy life at the English seaside is rudely ended when his parents are killed by a rhinoceros and he goes to live with his two horrid aunts. Daringly saving the life of a spider he comes into possession of magic boiled crocodile tongues, after which an enormous peach starts to grow in the garden. Venturing inside, he meets not only the spider but a number of new friends including a ladybug and a centipede who help him with his plan to try to get to New York. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
I wanted to watch this movie for a while. There are not many around animated this way and I did love The Nightmare before Christmas and Coraline. So, I finally gave it a try. I was not particularly impressed. I found the story somehow bland and uninspiring. Also, any little moral message in it is basically lost in a number of events that I presume are supposed to be exciting but are rather dull. The songs are not really bad, although they don't save the film. Perhaps I'm just too old for this, although I still love other family films like the ones mentioned at the beginning. I find this film just OK, I wouldn't watch it again.