The Tale of Despereaux Critic Reviews

It is a joy to look at frame by frame, and it would be worth getting the Blu-ray to do that. I am not quite so thrilled by the story, which at times threatens to make "Gormenghast" seem straightforward.Read the full review

A skillfully managed fairy tale about a mouse, a rat, and fairy tales in general.Read the full review

May not be a classic, but it still has a lot of class.Read the full review

A rare creature, not only for the handmade look and subtlety of its computer-generated imagery but also for its irony-free embrace of once-upon-a-time storytelling.Read the full review

A pleasantly immersive, beautifully animated, occasionally sleepy tale.Read the full review

Despereaux at least has too much ambition rather than too little, but its curiously intellectual pleasures suggest a quaint puzzle rather than a passionately loved fairy tale.Read the full review

While the story does not quite come to magical life, the themes of courage, hope and decency are sweetly inspiring.Read the full review

While the voice acting is fine and the story is nicely paced, the visuals are disappointing.Read the full review

The flatly generic results certainly appear at odds with the picture's stirring visual style, which pays homage to the great Flemish artists.Read the full review