-Written by Kyle Bain.
In 1955 Harold and the Purple Crayon, written by Crockett Johnson, was published. In 2024, Harold and the Purple Crayon, written by David Guion and Michael Handelman and directed by Carlos Saldanha, was released in theaters. It follows the titular character, Harold (Zachary Levi), as he travels from the cartoon world to the real world—in search of his “old man” (Alfred Molina). As he and his friends venture into the unknown, they will make friends, foes, and unforgettable memories.
A kids movie through and through, Harold and the Purple Crayon looks to entertain younger audiences while maintaining some level of moral significance that can appeal to mature audiences. I feel that this film accomplishes most of what it sets out to do—as nearly every child in the theater laughed throughout the duration of the film. That’s really all the team behind this film wants to accomplish (other than making millions of dollars). Honestly, as much as I hate people talking in the theater during films, there are two exceptions to that rule.
Opening night for Marvel films.
Children during childrens’ films.
Kids are honest, and from the mouth of babes, Harold and the Purple Crayon is freakin’ cool. If nothing in this film worked for me, if no adult on planet earth appreciated what this film is, it would still be considered a moral success, because the children said so.
However, is that the only thing that works for the film? No…heck no. Though, I’d like to address some of the negatives that plague this film before closing on a strong note. The thing that bothered me the most was Levi’s performance. To be clear, and this may sound strange, this is not at all a shot at Levi or his abilities. If you can remember back to the time when Elf was given some peculiar treatment on the interwebs, when the trailer for the beloved Christmas film was made to appear like a horror flick–that’s what Levi’s performance reminds me of. I think this comes from the top, however–I think the reason Levi plays Harold in such a creepy fashion isn’t because he’s incapable of capturing some level of innocence and naivety, but rather because this is the way that Saldanha asked him to portray the character. I think Harold and the Purple Crayon sees its lead perform just the way he was asked to–though, it was off putting to me.
That’s it really. That’s really the one major issue that I had with the film. As an adult that doesn’t have any children and struggles to see from their perspective, this portrayal of this character just didn’t do it for me. And, honestly, it sort of creeped me out.
Harold and the Purple Crayon does what seems to be becoming more and more prominent in film these days. What was once made popular by films like Space Jam and Looney Toons: Back in Action, Harold and the Purple Crayon blends live action and animation. This aspect of the film is conducted flawlessly. With transitions that happen at the blink of an eye to full-on massive creatures that fill the screen, Harold and the Purple Crayon relies heavily on the success of this part of it–and, again, it’s massively successful.
One reason why this film appeals to children is the fact that it’s fun–and a large part of that is the soundtrack. The soundtrack remains incredibly upbeat, driving the film forward, providing feelings of happiness and exhilaration throughout. Harold and the Purple Crayon knows its audience, and it pulls out all of the stops in order to ensure that those tiny people enjoy it.
Was I expecting something incredibly crafted? No. Was I expecting Harold and the Purple Crayon to blow me out of the water? No. Was I expecting something a tad weird that would appeal to younger audiences? Yup, and that’s what I got. I’ve said it a couple of times already, and I’ll say it again: Harold and the Purple Crayon knows what it needs to be, and it's successful in its venture. Will I go running to the store to buy the film when it comes out on blu-ray? More than likely, no. However, I don’t regret my decision to sit down in the theater for an hour and a half, have a couple laughs, and appreciate the artistry. It does just what I had hoped, nothing more, nothing less.
Directed by Carlos Saldanha.
Written by David Guion, Michael Handelman, & Crockett Johnson.
Starring Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howry, Zooey Deschanel, Benjamin Bottani, Tanya Reynolds, Jemaine Clement, Alfred Molina, Pete Gardner, Camille Guaty, etc.
7/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE
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