Based on the classic children's book by E.B. White, "Charlotte's Web" is the rare family film that the whole family can enjoy. The story should be familiar: a litter of pigs is born on the Zuckerman farm with one piglet being deemed the runt and destined for a short life. Daughter Fern (Fanning) begs her father to let her raise it as a pet and soon Wilbur, as he is named, finds himself out in the barn with a true menagerie of animals, all of whom keep to themselves. None of them have the heart to tell Wilbur that, as a spring pig, he will be the center piece of Christmas dinner. As summer comes, Wilbur makes friends with one Charlotte A. Cavatica (Roberts), a spider who has made her home in a corner of the barn. When she learns of Wilbur's future, she promises to help him avoid the trip to the smoke house. One morning, the farmer is amazed to find Wilbur standing underneath a glistening spider web, woven to spell out the words SOME PIG. Soon the entire town comes to visit Wilbur and take in the miracle. As summer progresses, Charlotte weaves her magic often, bringing life not only to the farm but to the community as well.

What a magical film. If I praised "Eragon" for its single dragon, the praise for "Charlotte's Web" is ten-fold. Fanning is well-cast as Fern but it is the animals and their personalities that stand out here. Like "Babe," "Charlotte's Web" uses real and animatronic animals almost seamlessly. Be it Templeton the Rat (Buscemi) rattling off the reasons he isn't helpful or a pair of geese (voiced by Oprah Winfrey and Cedric the Entertainer) commenting on the day's events, the voice actors fit their characters perfectly. Other cast members include Kathy Bates and Reba McEntire as cows Bitsy and Betsy, John Cleese as Samuel the Sheep and, in a case of inspired casting, Robert Redford as the wise horse, Ike. As Charlotte, Roberts' voice is soft and reassuring while Dominic Scott Ray gives voice to Wilbur with all of the amazement and wonder the world brings to it. If I could spin a web, I would declare "Charlotte's Web" SOME FILM!

On a scale of zero to four stars, I give "Charlotte's Web"