For me, the most interesting thing about this movie is the arrival of a new young star, AnnaSophia Robb, who plays Opal, the 10-year old girl, new in town, without any real friends. Her dad, whom she sometimes refers to as "the preacher" in voice-over, is played by Jeff Daniels. They move around a lot, such is the life of a Baptist preacher. The young actress reminds me so much of a young Natalie Portman, especially her expressions and delivery of certain lines. There are a few scenes where they overdid the closeups of her facial expressions, but that is the director's fault. I wouldn't be surprised to see young AnnaSophia become one of the big stars during the next 8 to 12 years.
We find out that Opal's mother left the family some years earlier, and Opal only has vague memories of her. Dad is very reluctant to talk about her mom, and the audience doesn't find out much, other than she felt under a microscope as a preacher's wife, and left when she couldn't handle it any more.
One day when Opal has been sent to the store for a few items, a stray dog is running through the Winn-Dixie, creating havoc. Opal comes to its rescue, claiming it is hers, and its name is Winn-Dixie. Near the end she says, "all the fun I've had this summer is because of Winn-Dixie", thus the title of the movie.
Several other good actors contribute, such as Cicely Tyson as half-blind Gloria, who the local boys say is a witch. She turns out to be a nice lady. Dave Matthews (of Dave Matthews Band fame) plays Otis, the local tender of the pet store. 80-year old Eva Marie Saint (of North By Northwest and On the Waterfront) is Miss Franny who tends the local library and befriends Opal.
I enjoyed the movie, I found myself wanting more but for what it is, a story of a girl and a dog in a new community, it hits the mark nicely.
update Sept 2011: We recently saw "Soul Surfer" with a teenage Annasophia Robb, so I watched this again to see how she was as a kid just beginning. I actually enjoyed this movie a bit better than when I first saw it several years ago. And it is fun to see how the young actress was back then.
Set in Florida, but filmed in the South Louisiana Cajun country.
We find out that Opal's mother left the family some years earlier, and Opal only has vague memories of her. Dad is very reluctant to talk about her mom, and the audience doesn't find out much, other than she felt under a microscope as a preacher's wife, and left when she couldn't handle it any more.
One day when Opal has been sent to the store for a few items, a stray dog is running through the Winn-Dixie, creating havoc. Opal comes to its rescue, claiming it is hers, and its name is Winn-Dixie. Near the end she says, "all the fun I've had this summer is because of Winn-Dixie", thus the title of the movie.
Several other good actors contribute, such as Cicely Tyson as half-blind Gloria, who the local boys say is a witch. She turns out to be a nice lady. Dave Matthews (of Dave Matthews Band fame) plays Otis, the local tender of the pet store. 80-year old Eva Marie Saint (of North By Northwest and On the Waterfront) is Miss Franny who tends the local library and befriends Opal.
I enjoyed the movie, I found myself wanting more but for what it is, a story of a girl and a dog in a new community, it hits the mark nicely.
update Sept 2011: We recently saw "Soul Surfer" with a teenage Annasophia Robb, so I watched this again to see how she was as a kid just beginning. I actually enjoyed this movie a bit better than when I first saw it several years ago. And it is fun to see how the young actress was back then.
Set in Florida, but filmed in the South Louisiana Cajun country.