The Tale of Despereaux Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A mouse reads a book, befriends a rat, and then everyone has to deal with the existential dread of cauliflower-ear girl.

🍿 The Tale of Despereaux: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Kingdom of Dor and the Rat, Roscuro

The story begins in the Kingdom of Dor, a place known for its delicious soups. A rat named Roscuro arrives with a sailor and becomes captivated by the aromas emanating from the castle kitchen. He sneaks in during the Royal Soup Day celebration and accidentally falls into the Queen’s soup bowl, leading to her death from shock.

Tragedy Strikes and Soup is Banned

Consumed by grief, the King bans both rats and soup from the kingdom, plunging Dor into perpetual darkness and famine. Roscuro, now an outcast, finds himself in the rat-infested dungeons beneath the castle, where he encounters Botticelli, the ruthless leader of the rat world.

The Birth of Despereaux and a Forbidden Friendship

Years later, Despereaux, an adventurous mouse with unusually large ears, is born in the kingdom. Unlike other mice, Despereaux is brave and curious. He forms an unlikely friendship with Princess Pea, breaking mouse law by interacting with a human. The Mouse Council, appalled by his actions, banishes him to the dungeons.

Banished to the Dungeons

In the dungeons, Despereaux encounters Roscuro. Touched by Despereaux’s description of Princess Pea’s sadness, Roscuro is moved to apologize to her. However, when he attempts to approach the princess, she is terrified and chases him away.

Kidnapping and Redemption

Heartbroken and vengeful, Roscuro plots to kidnap Princess Pea, enlisting the help of Miggery Sow, a neglected servant girl who dreams of being a princess. However, Roscuro double-crosses Miggery and locks her away. Despereaux, realizing the princess is in danger, sets out to rescue her.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Despereaux (Matthew Broderick): A courageous and adventurous mouse who defies expectations and befriends a princess.
• Princess Pea (Emma Watson): A kind and lonely princess who forms an unlikely friendship with Despereaux.
• Roscuro (Dustin Hoffman): A well-meaning rat whose actions inadvertently lead to tragedy and a desire for redemption.
• Miggery Sow (Tracey Ullman): A neglected and resentful servant girl who longs to be a princess.
• Botticelli (Ciarán Hinds): The ruthless and cruel leader of the rat world.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Narrator: “Okay, remember when we told you how, once upon a time, there was this brave little mouse? Well, If you know anything about fairy tales, you know that a hero doesn’t appear until the world really needs one.” – Introduces the story, setting up Despereaux as the unlikely hero.
• Despereaux: “There’s more to the world than what mice think.” – Despereaux, explains to his father how the world isn’t just about scaring and eating, that there is more beauty to it.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $50,877,145
• Worldwide Gross: $86,957,280

💥 The Tale of Despereaux Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching this as a kid and being utterly captivated by the animation style; it felt like stepping into an old storybook. While the plot might be a bit much for very young viewers, the message of courage and forgiveness really resonated with me, and I still appreciate the film’s unique charm. I felt that the voice acting, particularly by Dustin Hoffman, enhanced the emotional depth of the characters making the entire experience captivating.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Families looking for an animated adventure.”
  • “Fans of fairy tales and stories about unlikely heroes.”
  • “Viewers who appreciate visually stunning animation.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some scenes with rats may be scary for young children.”
  • “Deals with themes of loss, grief, and banishment.”
  • “Brief depictions of violence (mostly slapstick).”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While visually appealing, ‘The Tale of Despereaux’ suffers from a convoluted plot and a lack of emotional resonance, leaving it a passable but ultimately forgettable animated adventure.
• Common Sense Media: “Though beautifully animated and boasting a stellar voice cast, this tale might be too intense for younger viewers due to its darker themes and complex narrative.
• IMDB: “With a voice acting cast that includes Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick, the graphics are superb, but the storyline makes it boring, tedious and unconnected. Not a whole lot of fun.

Audience Reactions

Viewers appreciated the beautiful animation and the overall whimsical atmosphere of the movie.: Many enjoyed the stellar voice acting and the unique spin on classic fairy tale themes.

Some viewers were put off by the dark themes, deeming it inappropriate for younger children.: The movie had a very engaging story but had a storyline with confusing elements

Overall Consensus: While ‘The Tale of Despereaux’ boasts impressive animation and a talented voice cast, it receives mixed reviews due to a somewhat convoluted plot and occasionally dark themes, making it best suited for older children and adults who appreciate whimsical fairy tales.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the Newbery Medal-winning book of the same name by Kate DiCamillo.”
• “Several directors were involved in the project, including Mike Johnson, who was later replaced by Robert Stevenhagen.”
• “The end credits are depicted as a long, unrolled scroll, formerly used as a several sets of recipes and instructions on food care.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Tale of Despereaux?

The Tale of Despereaux is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for broadcast availability or digital purchase options to enjoy this animated adventure.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Tale of Despereaux, you might like these similar films:

• Ratatouille (2007): Both feature a rodent who dreams of more than what his colony wants him to be, featuring high quality animation.
• The Rescuers (1977): Animated movie, where two mice try to save a human, and end up going on a big adventure.
• The Princess Bride (1987): A fairy tale with adventure, humor, and a classic good vs. evil storyline.

🛒 The Tale of Despereaux Related Products

• The Tale of Despereaux (DVD): Own the movie on DVD and relive the adventure whenever you want.
• The Tale of Despereaux Book: Read the Newbery Medal-winning book by Kate DiCamillo that inspired the movie.
• Despereaux Plush Toy: Have a Despereaux for youself
• Princess Pea Tiara: Put on your tiara

🎧 Soundtrack

The Tale of Despereaux features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Soup” – performed by Glen Ballard, Gary Ross and David A. Stewart

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Tale of Despereaux – Nostalgia Critic

Ever wonder if that animated movie you watched as a kid was actually any good? The Nostalgia Critic dives into The Tale of Despereaux, and let’s just say, he has some *thoughts* about it. Prepare for some laughs and maybe a new perspective on this quirky flick!

“The Tale of Despereaux” Voice Actors and Characters

Did you know who voiced those adorable characters in The Tale of Despereaux? This video reveals the amazing voice cast, including Matthew Broderick and Emma Watson! It’s fascinating to see who brought these characters to life – check it out!

The Tale of Despereaux Read Aloud – Chapter 1: The Last One

Want to go deeper into the world of Despereaux? Listen to the first chapter of the book being read aloud! It’s a great way to compare the movie to the original story, and it’s actually pretty captivating. Perfect for a cozy afternoon or a fun listen with the kids!

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