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We are in the doldrums of a miserable summer movie season. That explains why this remake of a forgotten Disney property is winning headlines when you'd expect it to slide by unnoticed except by nostalgic parents.
But Pete's Dragon deserves the hype. It is indeed a rare jewel.
Effortlessly evoking the triumphant emotions of Disney's best live-action outings, it also provides a somber examination of the death of innocence, set among a magical pastiche of misty 1980s forest towns straight out of E.T., or the more recent Stranger Things.
The adults do fine work, and it's fun to see Karl Urban struggle in a rare turn as the villain, but the real stars here are a smart screenplay that does take its young audience for granted, and, of course, the giant CGI dragon.
The constant pull on your heartstrings is balanced with just enough comic relief, and the computer-generated dragon effects are thoughtfully designed and seamlessly executed. Your kids will cry through the majority of the film, and you probably will too. MIKE GALLUCCI.
Rated PG.
Critic's Grade: [ A ]
Willamette Week