Harold and the Purple Crayon
⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 (out of 5)
The generations of children who grew up on Crockett Johnson’s famous book of the four-year-old and his magic crayon have imaginations that are coloured purple. This beloved book inspired a series of books and a television series that follow Harold, Moose and Porcupine on adventures across the universe drawn by the young artist. Since its publication 70 years ago, there have not been any film adaptations until now. Harold (Zachary Levi) has grown up on this monochromatic journey and wants to experience the real world.
Throughout his existential travels, Harold has enjoyed hearing from the narrator (voiced by Alfred Molina) about life and giving him wisdom for his journey. Moose (Lil Rel Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds) are his friends who keep him company along the way and they are satisfied with getting home to bed at the end of each day. Still, as Harold gets older, his curiosity gets the better of him. He begins to yearn to know more about the ‘real world’ as he has deeper conversations with the voice named the ‘Old Man.’ Then, one day, the narration ends, and Harold decides to find the man behind the voice by drawing a door to the real world. As he and his friends journey into this existence's harsh realities, they discover that it might be harder to find their friend than they expected. Until Mel (Benjamin Bottani) and his mother, Terri (Zooey Deschanel), turn out to be the help they sought. They might be the very thing this single mother and her son need in their lives, too.
Harold is a tricky character to bring to life since he is ingrained into the hearts of generations of readers who know him as the bald four-year-old boy with his magical crayon. To age him and then have him break into our world has more challenges than one might think. Zachery Levi does his best to personify the innocence and adventure of this young soul. Still, his character borders on the edge of creepy on other levels. Granted, Benjamin Bottani’s character yearns for a father figure, and there is a connection between them. Yet, it is hard to turn off the ‘stranger danger’ siren as these two full-grown men are allowed into this family's home. Any parent with any sense of awareness should be discussing with their children after seeing this film about not letting strangers in their houses even though things remain innocent throughout the film between these characters.
Unfortunately, this element is not the only problematic aspect of the film. As Moose and Porcupine are turned into humans, Lil Rel Howery and Tanya Reynolds struggle to make this transition believable or endearing. Suppose this wasn't weird enough, as the story's villain, Gary the Librarian (Jemaine Clement), is introduced. In that case, things go from cringe-worthy to bizarre. This statement might seem odd since the film is based on a man who creates with a purple crayon. Still, this film had the potential to be a wonderful choice for families with a built-in fan base from the book, but nothing seems to become as magical as the original children's tale.
If there are any winning elements to the movie, they would be Zachery Levi's commitment to the role. This should have been the natural franchise to replace his time as Shazam, but the production won't likely have a follow-up. Yet, the touching aspects of Harold's desire to connect with the Old Man provide some heartwarming moments. In the end, Harold and the Purple Crayon is harmless and is a safe option for families looking for something for the family over the school holidays.
What will families be talking about after Harold and the Purple Crayon? There are plenty of discussion points from Harold's excursion into the real world. There are lessons in engaging with your imagination, dealing with grief and even discussing the realities of death. Yet, the stand-out opportunity to ask your children about would have to be the existence of God and the creator. The role of the narrator opens the door wide to find out your children's view of the spiritual realm and awareness of God and how he can be part of their lives.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. - Psalm 90: 2
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. - Hebrews 11:6
