Bridge to Terabithia is much less than it's being advertised as, which makes it much more of a good thing.
Pitched to the public as some latter-day Chronicles of Narnia, complete with scads of CGI-driven special effects, Terabithia is a much gentler, wiser film. It's certainly no knockoff. And while the beguiling, bucolic world it brings to the screen may seem overly contrived at times, its core values - friendship, imagination, compassion - are always worth celebrating, especially when depicted with the care and reverence so obvious here.
Bridge to Terabithia (Walt Disney Pictures) Starring Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb. Directed by Gabor Csupo. Rated PG. Time 96 minutes.