Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“He did what anyone would do with a magic crayon. He made some pies, and then he made some friends.”
Harold and the Purple Crayon starts with a super cute 2D animated baby in a blue onesie drawing different things that immediately come to life. For older viewers, the animation might hold strong nostalgic value, as it’s reminiscent of 2D drawing styles from early cartoon days—shows like Doctor Dolittle, Schoolhouse Rock!, or even later ones like The Flintstones or Dexter’s Laboratory.
Based on the illustrated children’s book of the same name by Crockett Johnson, first published in 1955, the live-action adaptation of “Harold and the Purple Crayon” (2024) stars Zachary Levi as the older Harold, who inhabits a magical world filled with creations he made with his purple crayon, including his best friends Moose (Lil Rel Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds). One fine day, the “old man” who created Harold stops talking to him, so Harold draws a door to the “real world” to find his creator. Thus begins the adventure of a lifetime!
Zooey Deschanel plays exhausted, single mother Terry, while Benjamin Bottani portrays her imaginative little son, Mel. When the mother and son accidentally hit Harold and Moose, Mel instantly takes a liking to the cheerful duo and promises to help them find their “old man.” His mother however isn’t thriller with the idea of helping two grown adult men, but grudgingly agrees to go along with Mel for a bit. Terry, of course, represents the cynical, jaded adult who has lost all faith in magic, while her sweet son, Mel, is symbolic of childhood innocence, hope, and promise.
Harold and the Purple Crayon is the kind of movie I would’ve absolutely loved as a nine-year-old. And even as an older viewer, there were plenty of scenes that had me smiling like a kid. It’s just a level below classic fantasy entertainer like ‘Jumanji’ in my eyes. Tanya Reynolds, as a porcupine-turned-punk-rock-princess with purple hair in the real world, is low-key hilarious, especially in her mannerisms as a feisty wild animal turned human. Zachary Levi’s portrayal of Harold feels like he’s in yet another Shazam movie, but in his defense, Harold is the same kind of character—a kid in a man’s body, but with superpowers.
Levi and Lil Rel Howery as best friends make a fun Dumb & Dumber-style pair, bumbling through the real world with their magic crayon and creating quite a lot of trouble for Mel’s mom. Jemaine Clement plays the antagonist Gary, a librarian and aspiring fantasy author whose expansive book has no takers. When he sees Harold’s magic crayon, he instantly sets his sights on acquiring it, by hook or crook. Ultimately, “Harold and the Purple Crayon” celebrates the power of imagination, friendship, and kindness.
The special effects don’t stand out impressively in the film, and in a few scenes, it’s quite evident that the characters are interacting with a green screen. However, given the extensive CGI usage throughout the runtime, the effects are engaging enough. The climax features a magical face-off between Harold and Gary, with both frantically and comically drawing things to fight each other. This face-off could’ve been a lot crazier and funnier, but the writers don’t push the boundaries of their imagination. Regardless, the ending is satisfying, and there’s a comedic post-credit scene, so don’t forget to watch that.
Overall, Harold and the Purple Crayon is a fun pick for movie night, especially for kids.
Rating: 7 on 10. Watch the movie on Netflix/Zee5 or rent it on Prime Video.
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