Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- gentle
- earnest
- family movie night
- children's viewing
What critics said
Critics generally admired the film's beautiful animation and Matthew Broderick's vocal performance but found its story obvious and heavy-handed.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Despereaux, Roscuro, and Miggery Sow pursue separate paths whose fates become connected to Princess Pea and the castle.
The plot includes a dungeon-centered hierarchy and a regime shaped by punishment, darkness, and control.
The animated castle, dungeon, animal characters, and fairy-tale atmosphere are presented as elaborately drawn storybook imagery.
The intertwined mouse, rat, servant, and princess storylines emphasize forgiveness, loyalty, and unlikely friendship across social and species boundaries.
Films like The Tale of Despereaux, and why
The Secret of NIMH
whimsical animated fantasy, animal protagonists, courage, and forgiveness aimed at family audiences
The Princess and the Frog
storybook animation, unlikely heroes, castle intrigue, and themes of loyalty and compassion
The Borrowers
family-friendly fantasy adventure featuring small animal heroes, friendship, and richly designed worlds
Movie Details
- Directors
- Robert Stevenhagen, Sam Fell
- Release Date
- 2008-12-18
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (1048)
Cast
- Matthew Broderick
- Dustin Hoffman
- Emma Watson
- Tracey Ullman
- Kevin Kline
- Sigourney Weaver
- William H. Macy
- Stanley Tucci
- Ciarán Hinds
- Robbie Coltrane
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Tale of Despereaux about?
- A courageous book-loving mouse, a restless dungeon rat, and a lonely servant girl become unlikely agents of hope in a troubled kingdom.
- What is The Tale of Despereaux like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Tale of Despereaux as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Tale of Despereaux violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Tale of Despereaux.
- What did critics think of The Tale of Despereaux?
- Critics generally admired the film's beautiful animation and Matthew Broderick's vocal performance but found its story obvious and heavy-handed.
- Which films are like The Tale of Despereaux?
- Films with a similar feel include The Secret of NIMH, The Princess and the Frog, and The Borrowers.
- How long is The Tale of Despereaux?
- The Tale of Despereaux runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Tale of Despereaux?
- In United States, The Tale of Despereaux is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
