Bonus Feature Highlights:

• In addition to two Audio Commentaries (Cast, featuring Alexis Bledel, Jonathan Jackson, Scott Bairstow and director Jay Russell; and Filmmaker, featuring Russell and screenwriter James V. Hart), the DVD also includes an optional Lessons of Tuck feature, hosted by Jackson. When this feature is enabled, the film is interrupted at various key points in the story by video footage of the above referenced cast and crew members, along with author Natalie Babbitt and a collection of ethnically diverse teenagers, commenting on the key issues addressed in the film, such as mortality and immortality, growing up and growing old, life and death and so on. In the end, for such a simple, straight-forward film as Tuck Everlasting, the inclusion of four different viewing options for the film itself seems like overkill. Sometimes its best to just let the story speak for itself …
• In the Lessons of Tuck feature, its not surprising that Babbitt provides the most compelling insights. She is granted further exposure in A Visit with Natalie Babbitt, a short featurette offering biographical information on the author herself, with special focus on, of course, her 1975 novel Tuck Everlasting.

Toon Talk Trivia:

• Tuck Everlasting was filmed before, in 1981, directed by Frederick King Keller. Keller directed another Natalie Babbitt story, The Eyes of Amaryllis, the following year.
• James V. Hart also wrote the screenplay for Muppet Treasure Island.
• Tuck Everlasting boasts a cast that, combined, represents 14 Oscar nominations: winners William Hurt (Kiss of the Spider-Woman), Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner’s Daughter) and Ben Kingsley (Ghandi) and nominees Amy Irving (Yentl) and Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas).
• Sissy Spacek also starred in Disney’s The Straight Story. Her Carrie co-star Amy Irving provided the uncredited singing voice of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
• As well as his Emmy nominated role in ABC’s Alias, Victor Garber was most recently seen as the Mayor of River City in The Music Man. He has become a favorite in these television musicals, playing the King in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Daddy Warbucks in Annie; he has been cast as Tevye in the now on hold new production of Fiddler on the Roof.
• Elisabeth Shue, who serves as the narrator of Tuck Everlasting, appears in the Body Wars film at Epcot and also starred in the Touchstone comedy Adventures in Babysitting.

Coming Soon in Toon Talk:

• Belle’s Magical World, now available, concludes the Beauty and the Beast three part “Special Edition” DVD releases.
• French Stewart takes over for Matthew Broderick in the direct to video sequel Inspector Gadget 2, debuting on March 11^th.
• … and this little piggy … gets his own movie? Piglet’s Big Movie hits the big screen starting March 21^st.

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Related Links

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-- Kirby C. Holt

Kirby, a former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member (and Trivia Champ), is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...

Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.

The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.

-- Posted March 3, 2003