Harold and the Purple Crayon | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

Harold and the Purple Crayon contains some intriguing visual effects and a fine turn from Zachary Levi, but sadly the film falls short when it comes to its narrative, which simply doesn't have a whole lot to it.

This lethargic adaptation of Crockett Johnson’s classic children’s book of yesteryear gets just about everything wrong, and yet, almost nudges its way into partial favour with an occasional moment of genuine inspiration.

In this sense, Harold and the Purple Crayon strikes the perfect balance between creating something that is primarily aimed at children but also catering to its inevitable adult audience of parents taking their kids to the cinema.

Levi capers around with a big, goofy smile and a squeak in his voice -- but there’s more desperation than humour in the performance.

You can feel the strain in almost every frame of this expensive, try-hard fantasy jaunt that attempts to bring the classic 1955 Crockett Johnson children’s book to life by pushing it into the real world. Alas, it is a noble misfire.