Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

Based on the best selling children's novel by Kate DiCamillo "Because of Winn-Dixie" is a moving, sickly sweet family movie that children will overall enjoy. Full of beautiful friendships and memorable quotes. All round, a film mostly for children, which made me wish to not like it, but as the end credits rolled, I couldn't help but feel full of joy. A brilliant, touching, story that is slightly held back by over-cheesiness, and the fact that it is clear that when lines of dialogue are given, that the actors are reading from a script instead of actually believing the things they are saying. However, this is only from an adult perspective.Annasophia Robb is impressive as young Opal, Cicely Tyson gives a reasonably convincing performance as Gloria, while Jeff Daniels gives a brilliant emotional performance as her father, the Preacher, but for me, the real star was Winn-Dixie, as it was completely impossible for your heart not to go to that adorable dog.

Dear IMDb readers, In the book, it said that Opal had short, curly, red hair and freckles. AnnaSophia Robb, doesn't have short, curly, red hair or freckles! The rest of the movie was okay, it was exactly what the book said and explained. I saw this movie once 2 years ago, so I barely remember some parts of it. I recently read the book again, because I loved it when I read it about 3 years ago. My little 8 year old daughter enjoyed it as well, but she got really mad that the book about that. Sincerely, Catherine (and her daughter Lia) P.S. I'm just writing this because it says whole comment thing has to be a minimum of 10 lines, and i can't write more. Well, I can but I don't exactly know what to write.

Because of Winn-Dixie is a horrible mess of a film, the story is extremely formulaic and cheesy, plus full of major plot holes. It just doesn't work at all. The performances are also horrible, particularly Annasophia Robb in the lead roll as the little girl the film circles around. Jeff Daniels and Eva Marie Saint are usually great actors but here they not only give their own worst performances, but some of the worst ever put on screen. The direction is sentimental and horrible, just awful. This guy should just stop making movies, I hope he never does does it again. The dog is just annoying, the effects horrible, the plot holes are many, it just stinks.

I went with some friends to see this (mostly because there was nothing else to see), and they all seemed to like it. I'm afraid I've missed something. I just thought it was ridiculous, I almost wanted to think of it as one of those unbearable stereotypical animal movies like The Amazing Panda Adventure or Mom, Can I Keep Her? Fortunately, it wasn't AS bad (if anything could go as far).The storyline is probably the most pointless. Who could write a book about this and be fueled to continue? If someone wrote a book about how a lonely turtle befriends a coco puff and they embark on a quest to roam the turtle's tank, I'd probably be reminded of this. Foremost, I think there are PLENTY of dog lover stories clogging the drain that is Hollywood, don't you think? Sorry, Winn-Dixie fans. That's how it goes. If you haven't seen this, don't bother. Life is too short. Watch something worth your while.