Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Wayne Wang

Writers (WGA):

Kate DiCamillo (novel)
Joan Singleton (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Tagline:

Discover what happens when you go looking for a miracle and a miracle comes looking for you.

Plot:

A mischievous dog befriends a lonely young girl in a new town and helps her make new friends.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Small Town | Preacher | Candy | Library

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

AnnaSophia Robb	...	Opal
Jeff Daniels	...	Preacher
Cicely Tyson	...	Gloria
Dave Matthews	...	Otis
Eva Marie Saint	...	Miss Franny
Courtney Jines	...	Amanda Wilkinson
Nick Price	...	Dunlap Dewberry
Luke Benward	...	Stevie Dewberry
Elle Fanning	...	Sweetie Pie Thomas
Marca Price	...	Mrs. Dewberry
Lenore Banks	...	Mrs. Detweller
B.J. Hopper	...	Mr. Alfred
John McConnell	...	Store Manager
Harland Williams	...	Policeman
William Arthur Pitts	...	Churchgoer 1

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and brief mild language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Argentina:Atp | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | South Korea:All | Australia:PG | UK:U | USA:PG (certificate #41140) | Ireland:PG

Filming Locations:

Louisiana, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The bunny that Ottis hands Opal (at 56:50) is a Netherlands Dwarf. They only get to be between 6 to 8 inches long.

Goofs:

Continuity: The rat used for the beginning of the church scene is male, it then switches to being a female rat and back again between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Opal: Safe!

Movie Connections:

References "The Flintstones" (1960)

Soundtrack:

Pet Store Humming

A girl and her dog

Opal, the daughter of a preacher, is a girl with a mind of her own. When she meets Winn-Dixie, she has found a pal. Her father is a man that is in pain. He is trying to reconcile himself to his present circumstances. Arriving at the small southern town, he must do good work in order to attract a faithful congregation. He doesn't have much to fear, just leave it Opal to get everyone together in a place where people have grown apart.

The great book by Kate DiCamillo, is an excellent book for young adults. Joan Singleton adapted it for the screen and Wayne Wang directed a nice cast that produced a movie that, while some would think it's too sugary for their taste, it captured perfectly the essence of a small southern town.

The sweet AnnaSophia Robb plays the leading role. This young actress is a natural, or so it seems. Jeff Daniels, one of our best actors is seen as the preacher who can't forget his wife and who has to come to terms with himself. Cicely Tyson and Eva Maria Saint are perfect as two of the town's oldest citizens that are won over by Opal's goodness. Elle Fanning is seen as Sweetie Pie, a lovely girl. B. J. Hopper and Dave Mathews also contributed to the film.

This film was clearly targeted for young audiences. It has the right ingredients that prove to be a magical combination for family movies, a girl and a cute dog, a sure formula for appealing to audiences. Wayne Wang, an unlikely choice for director, brings all these elements together for a film that will not disappoint.