AGW Entertainment reporter Lynn B. saw a new romantic fantasy film. Here are her thoughts on....

TUCK EVERLASTING

Walt Disney Pictures

A lot of young people growing up in the 1970's read the award-winning Natalie Babbitt novel upon which this new fantasy romance is based. Believe it or not, the beautiful forest scenes were shot just outside a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. According to star Alexis Bledel, the waterfalls were freezing!

In the late 1800's, Winnie Foster (Alexis Bledel) is a 15-year-old who feels trapped by her stodgy mom (Amy Irving) who wants to make a perfect lady out of a free spirit. When Winnie runs away and meets Jesse Tuck (Jonathan Jackson) and his family (William Hurt, Sissy Spacek, Scott Bairstow) deep in the woods near her home, she finds them to be mysterious and most of all…living free! As she falls for Jesse, Winnie discovers the family's 100-year-old secret, a truth that keeps the evil "Man in the Yellow Suit" (Ben Kingsley) tracking them. Ultimately, Winnie has to decide whether to stay with the Tucks forever or return to her own family and life.

Tuck Everlasting is directed by Jay Russell, the same fellow who gave us My Dog Skip, a wonderful family film. "Tuck" has its corny moments, some bland dialogue and is a little slow at times but all-in-all, it's also a beautiful star-crossed young love tale with fabulous scenery and a romantic film score. Dad Tuck's advice to Winnie "Don't be afraid of dying. Be afraid of the unlived life" is, of course sound. The whole "circle of life" theme of the film is right out of Disney's "The Lion King". You start to wonder why the studio is so hung up on it but that doesn't really matter either. Watching the ethereal Alexis Bledel flit and scamper with new love Jesse is certainly G-rated but "pretty". Ben Kingsley seems kind of ridiculous in his banana-rama yellow suit. He would appear to be the devil (as he tries to tempt a priest) or some portent of supernatural evil but he's not. He's just a guy who wants to get rich on finding the fountain of youth but he adds some spunk to the film.

Winnie has to make a heartbreaking choice and, after considering the control her mom and dad hold over her, it's kind of difficult to believe her decision but she has her reasons. At least you'll leave the theater discussing amongst your friends…"if you could live forever just the age you are now…would you? What would you want to do and see"? Tuck Everlasting is a quiet but entertaining film that makes young people think and, although not perfect, should be praised for that alone. See it if you are a romantic.

Official website: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/tuck/index.html

Rated: PG