Review Copyright Cassandra Henry, 2002

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"Do not fear death, rather the unlived life." -- Angus Tuck (William Hurt) CASS' CLIP (WARNING: **spoilers below**) Tuck Everlasting takes place in the early 19th century. Winnifred Foster (Alexis Bledel) is a typical free-spirited, inquisitive 15-year old girl, eager to see the sights of the world. However, Winnie isn't allowed to talk to strangers -- e.g., a mysterious Man in the Yellow Suit (Ben Kingsley) -- or venture outside her family's fenced in estate without a chaperon. Ya see, Winnie's parents, Robert and Augusta Foster (Victor Garber and Amy Irving), have the means to provide for her every worldly possession but they lack the skills to provide for her emotional welfare. [Translation -- I ain't never seen a hundred bill hug anyone]. But when her prudish mother tells her that she's going to boarding school, Winnie finally says, "Hell no!" Out of despair, Winnie runs into the surrounding woods, and, of course she gets lost. [Not a problem though, because her folks own dem dere woods]. She sees a handsome young man, Jesse Tuck (Jonathan Jackson), drinking water from a spring at the foot of an old tree. Jesse is startled by Winnie's presence, but he is immediately smitten with her and tries to play it cool. When Winnie asked for a sip of water, Jesse gets nervous because he knows this is no ordinary spring. Just as Jesse is insisting that Winnie leave, his brother, Miles (Scott Bairstow), discovers them innocently quarrelling. On horseback, Miles snatches Winnie up and he takes her deeper into the forest. There we meet Jesse and Miles' parents, Angus and Mae Tuck (William Hurt and Sissy Spacek). [Winnie was taken because Angus had told them that if they saw anyone snooping around in the woods or getting to close, "you know what to do. No exceptions."]. Angus and Miles are initially suspicious of Winnie because she's the landowner's daughter, but Mae is just happy to have another female around. When the Tucks determine that Winnie poses no threat they let their guard down and return to their seemingly peaceful existence. Jesse and Winnie quickly become love-struck teenagers, frolicking in the forest or swimming in a glistening lake. Winnie enjoys her freedom and the affection the Tucks shower her with so much so that she forgets about time and her parents. But after Miles sees Winnie and Jesse kiss, he gets so jealous that he suddenly decides to tell Winnie about his family's secret. He recounts the day the Tucks were picnicking in the woods (oh, about 100 years ago) and how they drank from this spring, which made them immortal. Miles explains, "The spring stops you right where you are." So in actuality Jesse is 104 years old, but he'll always look 17 years old. [Ohhhh, to be 17 again]. Now that the big secret is out, Miles tells Winnie, "I bet you wished Jesse told you this before you kissed him?" [17 and 15 is cool but 104 and 15, well that's just nasty!] Meanwhile, back at the Foster mansion, Winnie's parents are worried that something horrible has happened to her because she hasn't returned home. Her mother believes that the mysterious Man in the Yellow Suit she saw talking to Winnie earlier has something to do with her sudden disappearance so a search party is dispatched into the woods. But the MITYS turns himself in to the authorities and explains to them and the Fosters that he knows Winnie's whereabouts, and that the family who abducted her is dangerous. He guarantees Winnie's safe return, but for a price -- the deed to the forest. [And what's in the forest? Let's pray it's the rest of the plot]. Winnie's dilemma: (a) decide if she wants to return to her not so touchy-feely; (b) stay with the more affectionate Tucks; or (c) go home, but keep the Tucks' secret. Angus senses Winnie's confusion and explains to her not to fear life, "but the life unlived." Winnie's choice will either lead her down the back alleys of regrets or on the road to everlasting life. DA 411 Tuck Everlasting tells the story of the Tuck family and how they found the fountain of youth in a magical spring. Problem is, immortality may not be what it's all cracked up to be. This film is based on Natalie Babbitt's best-selling classic children's novel of the same name. Even though this family-friendly flick is beautiful to watch cinematographically, it may be hard for young children to understand the philosophical theme and moral issues this movie attempts to address. Gilmore Girls, Alexis Bledel and Jonathan Jackson did a nice job as the young lovers, Winnie and Jesse. Because Tuck Everlasting basically centers on Winnie and Jesse's relationship the remaining cast members -- William Hurt, Sissy Spacek, Ben Kingsley, Amy Irving, Scott Bairstow, Victor Garber, Kosha Engler -- roles seem superficial. James Carter's musical score did add to the idyllic wonderment of Tuck Everlasting's charm. Just a side thought -- If this spring was supposed to give anyone who drank from it eternal life, why did the Tucks drink from this spring every time the family got together during that century? CASS' CONCLUSION The moral of the story is -- If you live life to the fullest and love like there's no tomorrow, you're guaranteed an incredible and everlasting existence. TUCK EVERLASTING:   back to top Copyright Cassandra Henry, 2002 EMAIL: cass@3blackchicks.com