Took the kids to the 2nd-run theater yesterday to see:
Because Of Winn-Dixie.

I wasn't really looking forward to the movie, itself (being with the kids is always fun, though) because it looked like some hokey shit. And then I saw that it ran almost 2.5 hours and wondered how the hell my 3- and 5-year olds were going to sit through the damn thing.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the hell out of that movie! And so did the boys (who I was also worried would hate it)! Not even one trip to the bathroom.

In fact, about 2 hours into it, Ethan (my 3-year old) whispered to me, "Daddy. This is a very good movie."

Hell, Dave Matthews' (he acted in it) singing didn't even bother me. (He did keep it low-key.)

It was one of those long movies that I was actually disappointed to see end. If you like kid-oriented morality/life-lesson-tyle movies with a Southern twist, give it a try.

I can't believe I did.

Todd, this was actually filmed near where I live.

Todd, nobody is going to be able to comment b/c nobody without kids would go see this movie. I hpoe it was chock full of crappy southern stereotypes.

Rented it for my kids. It's very well done, much more Babe-like than most American kids movies. Some good acting. Didn't talk down to kids. Very little that was insufferably cute or smarmy.

Worth seeing.

How was Dave Matthew's acting job?

Not bad, really.