CORPORATE LINE: The village of Napoleonville, Louisiana stands in for the story’s fictional Naomi, Florida. Sleepy Naomi is a place where people have forgotten how to share their sadness and their joy. But Opal and Winn-Dixie might have something to say about that.
Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Dave Matthews and Eva Marie Saint star as the somewhat eccentric adults who benefit from Opal and Winn-Dixie’s bumpy summer of discovery.
Newcomer AnnaSophia Robb won the role of Opal following an intensive talent hunt. “Opal and Winn-Dixie have something in common,” says AnnaSophia. “She doesn’t have a mother and he doesn’t have a home. They both want somebody to love and somebody to love them. And, as a team, they begin to realize that other people just might want the same things.”
Winn-Dixie guides Opal into places where magic dozes under a coat of dusty disappointment and awakens the people hiding there. Things begin to change day by day under the summer sun – in a funky pet store, a musty library, a drab mobile home, a ramshackle house and a convenience store-turned temple of worship.
DVD FEATURES:
Commentary by Jeff Daniels and producer Trevor Albert that is as basic as any commentary you are likely to hear. It’s not something kids will get a kick out of listening too—honestly I wasn’t very interested in it myself. There is a scene-specific commentary by AnnaSophia Robb for the kids.
The gag reel is only two minutes and the featurette “Diamond in the Ruff” is three minutes. Seems like a major waste. The “Behind-the-scenes with Winn Dixie” doesn’t give much information about the film.
FRANKLY: Because of Winn Dixie can be a downer. It’s not the sort of movie that you want your kid watching over and over again. Disney it’s not. But there is a sweetness that is hard to resist. An all-star cast doesn’t hurt. As a parent you may want to watch it first and then decide if your kids will be interested or able to absorb the story.
+ Charlie Craine
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