Reviewer's Rating 3 out of 5
Tuck Everlasting DVD (2003)

Tuck Everlasting is like Highlander... but without the swordplay, action, and comedy. It retells a favourite US kids' fiction story about a girl called Winnie, who falls in love with Jesse Tuck - who just happens to be immortal. Somehow, though, Disney seems to be blurring fiction with reality due to a cloying feature it's put on the DVD release.

You Have Issues

No, you really do. Switch on the Lessons Of Tuck option for watching the movie and you turn on an audaciously false set of featurettes. Every now and again, Jonathan Jackson will halt the film to talk about issues raised in the movie. "What does it mean to grow up?" asks Jonathan before pausing to gaze into the camera to tell us, "Yes I really am asking you this seriously." You may laugh, cry or likely vomit at these featurettes, but this DVD will not have you bearing your soul, no matter how much Jackson looks like he's about to cry.

Let's Visit Babbitt

Aspiring writers may want to take a look at the featurette A Visit With Natalie Babbitt. She wrote the original book, and the story of how she got into the writing game should interest those of you wondering how you get there.

Tips From A Nine-Year-Old

Scriptwriter James V Hart reveals on his commentary with director Jay Russell that his nine-year-old daughter gave him the book and told him it would make a great movie. What then unfolds is the story of the film's ten year development. Russell is also in on the cast commentary, which is a livelier affair and leaves a far better taste in the mouth than that awful Lessons Of Tuck viewing option.

EXTRA FEATURES

  • Audio commentary with director Jay Russell, and stars Jonathan Jackson, Alexis Bledel, and Scott Bairstow
  • Audio commentary with Jay Russell and screenwriter James V Hart
  • Lessons Of Tuck viewing option
  • A Visit With Natalie Babbitt featurette
  • This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-N5 DVD player.

    Technical Information

    REGION SOUND MENUS RATIO
    2 Dolby Digital 5.1 Animated, with music 2.35:1 (anamorphic)
    CHAPTERS SUBTITLES AUDIO TRACKS
    16 English, Arabic, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish English, Spanish, Turkish
    CAPTIONS EXTRAS SUBTITLES CERTIFICATE
    English None of the special features come with subtitles PG

    End Credits

    Director: Jay Russell

    Writer: James V Hart, Jeffrey Lieber

    Stars: Jonathan Jackson, Alexis Bledel, William Hurt, Sissy Spacek, Ben Kingsley, Scott Bairstow

    Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy

    Length: 86 minutes

    Cinema: 2003

    DVD: 15 December 2003

    Country: USA