Review of The Wind in the Willows

This magical little film doesn't have flashy production values or Disney-quality animation, and yet it blows anything Disney has to offer right out of the water. Against all odds, this adaptation succeeds in perfectly capturing the winsome, nostalgic tone of Kenneth Grahame's classic novel. It features humor and surprisingly well-done musical sequences, but the producers have carefully preserved the spiritual dimensions of the book, notably the material about the Piper. Children will love it, but adults will appreciate its unexpectedly mature approach and may be caught off guard to find it moving. The result is a film that works on multiple levels and that everyone can enjoy. I've loved this film since I was 9, and at the age of 35 it still has the power to enchant.