Before the film adaptation was released, I was unfamiliar with “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” My knowledge of Harold’s adventures was nonexistent, and I had no expectations of the narrative. However, within the first ten minutes of the film, the plot trajectory became entirely predictable. While the film serves as harmless entertainment, it ultimately represents one of the more formulaic offerings in children’s cinema.
The film’s premise is reminiscent of a simplified version of the 2023 Barbie movie. In it, Harold, a character who knows he’s part of a fictional universe, is thrown into our reality. His adventure begins when his narrator, who also doubles as his father, disappears, prompting Harold to use his enchanted crayon to draw a passage into our world.
Similar to “Barbie,” Harold, played by Zachary Levi, sometimes picks up on the subtleties of his new surroundings but often seems out of his element. His sidekicks include a talking moose and porcupine, played by Tanya Reynolds and Lil Rel Howery, respectively. Their attempts at humor mostly fall flat, with loud, repetitive jokes that tend to irritate rather than amuse.
The film’s potential strength is its visual innovation, where Harold’s crayon animates objects into existence. The magic crayon’s creations are impressive when depicting tangible objects like a tire or a bicycle. However, when the objects are digitally generated, they lack texture and realism, appearing as if they are simply floating in space. This is especially evident in a scene where the characters interact with an ice cream that never melts, no matter how much is supposedly consumed.
The overall effect is unconvincing and fails to capture the imagination. Despite Harold’s intelligence, his character often comes across as annoying rather than engaging. The narrative tries to be sweet but is hampered by its predictability, lacking any real suspense or emotional depth. The film plays out exactly as one might expect, in the most uninspiring way possible.
Although I have never read the original book “Harold and the Purple Pencil,” the movie convinced me that the book could provide a more immersive experience.
