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The Trumpet of the Swan (2001)

tomatometer

15

Average Rating: 3.5/10
Reviews Counted: 41
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 35

An uninspired E.B. White adaptation that's targeted at the very young.

7

Average Rating: 3.2/10
Critic Reviews: 15
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 14

An uninspired E.B. White adaptation that's targeted at the very young.

audience

39

liked it
Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 3,033

My Rating

Movie Info

E.B. White's children's story of a swan searching for his voice comes to life in this animated adventure. When young Louie the Swan is hatched, it's soon discovered that he isn't able to make a sound, which is a matter of no small annoyance to his boastful father (voice of Jason Alexander) and doting mother (voice of Mary Steenburgen). As Louie gets a bit older, he falls in love with Serena (voice of Reese Witherspoon), but he has no way of telling her how he feels. Despondent, Louie flies away,

Jul 31, 2001

Columbia Pictures

Cast

All Critics (44) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (36) | DVD (8)

Features charmless songs, junky animation, hambone voice talent.

May 17, 2001 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | Comment
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Too bad the director didn't set his mind to making a film parents could enjoy, too.

May 14, 2001 Comment
Boston Globe
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Passable animation for the younger members of the family, but the movie never finds its own voice.

May 11, 2001 Full Review Source: Newsday | Comment
Newsday
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One ugly duckling of a cartoon.

May 11, 2001 Comment
New York Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A shallow, tacky, finally soupy revision of a wry, noticing, resonant, elegant, deeply romantic story.

May 11, 2001 Full Review Source: Detroit News | Comment
Detroit News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The movie leeches from the book most of what makes the story wonderful: The sly humour and the occasional dark edge that keeps the inherent sweetness on the safe side of sentimentality.

May 11, 2001 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A good family movie; much to enjoy and talk about.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Its catalogue of atrocity is so variegated and pungent that to list them all would be more effort than has in fact gone into the film's production

October 22, 2001 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | Comment
Film Freak Central

This is one worth missing in the hopes that some day, someone will do it a whole lot better.

July 30, 2001 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

A rushed direct-to-video kiddie flick.

June 27, 2001 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

"Trumpet of the Swan" features flat background art, some poor sound syncing and insipid, sugary songs.

May 23, 2001 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | Comment
Reeling Reviews

One of the weakest kids' films in recent memory.

May 18, 2001 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | Comment
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Shallowness of characterization and unmemorable songs.

May 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | Comment
Boxoffice Magazine

This adaptation of E.B. White's classic novel doesn't even live up to the Hanna-Barbera Charlotte's Web, let alone 1999's Stuart Little.

May 11, 2001 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Trumpet of the Swan

Almost as good as the original "Charlote's Web" movie. I haven't reas the book, but I expect I'd love it.

June 12, 2007
trina2018091401
Katrina O

Without a doubt, the worst animated film I have ever seen. Music so bad it's scary, a plot that makes absolutely no sense, awful voice syncing, and, worst of all, the worst line in cinema history. "Is it time for recess yet?" -The Teacher (in the most obnoxious voice ever)

October 6, 2009
john f.
john fricken smith

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