message in the movies By Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader

                   
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events   Rated PG
Directed by Brad Silberling. Starring Jim Carrey, Emily Browning
Photo © Paramount Pictures
You may not know much about Lemony Snicket (the  pen name of Daniel Handler, author of a series of children’s books), but there’s a good chance that your children do, for the short novels have sold over 25 million copies. The books tell the sad tale of the Baudelaire siblings, orphaned when their parents perished in a house fire and under the guardianship of a dim-witted banker who places them in the care of a series of clueless adults.  The person who wants the orphans most of all is the evil Count Olaf (who desires the Baudelaire fortune). His villainy is undone in the first book, but he reappears in each successive volume in another outrageous disguise that is instantly recognized by the children and dismissed by the grownups.  The orphans must use every bit or resourcefulness to outwit Count Olaf and to discover their destiny.  Oldest child Violet is an inventor, brother Klaus is a reader and researcher, and baby Sunny is a biter, with four sharp teeth. Despite the gloomy tone of the stories (and the dark look of this film adaptation), these books are actually modern fairy tales full of humor, satire, and adventure, with strong statements about the values of fidelity and family.  This film is based on the first three books in the series (which will eventually include thirteen volumes) and, while decidedly less engaging than the wonderful books, nevertheless very well-cast and handsomely produced.  Jim Carrey is given free rein to improvise as Count Olaf and he has a great time with the part.  There is an all-star supporting cast, including Meryl Streep as Aunt Josephine, a woman who is terrified of everything but lives on a house supported by rickety supports over a raging sea.   This is a true children’s film that is scary, funny, exciting, and even innocent.  Take time to see this film, and then stop by the library on the way home and start reading the books.

Pitchfork Rating: Three halos. (If you’re in the right mood, this is a supremely silly and very entertaining family film, with positive family values.) Two pitchforks. (Children in peril, with some pretty scary situations; brief crude language; one scene of death.)

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