It started as a book, now it's a movie, and, remarkably, both are excellent!

        Alex says, "it's the most book accurate movie I've ever seen!"

Jennifer and Alex told me about this book by Louis Sachar a few years ago.  Both said it was great, so I had to read it.  And they were right.  It is great.  So read the book if you haven't already.

When Alex and I heard they were making a movie, we groaned.  We didn't think they could make a movie of this book without seriously changing the plot.  In summary, the book is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats IV who gets arrested for stealing shoes.  Only he didn't steal the shoes.  Really it's about a family curse, the story of the great-great-grandfather who brought the curse on the family, and an outlaw from the 1800's who turns to a life of crime because her true love is murdered by jealous men.  It's about how Stanley Yelnats IV lifts the family curse by digging holes and carrying his friend up a mountain to sing him a song. Then there are the onions and peaches.  Got all that?  

The book is actually a short, tight well-written story that interweaves these three stories seamlessly.  The movie manages to do the same, possibly because the original screenplay was written by Louis Sachar as well.  All the casting worked, and John Voight is great as Mister Sir. Ertha Kit is Madam Zeroni, Patricia Arquette is Kissin' Kate Barlow, and Henry Winkler is Stanley Yelnats III.  The boys are all well cast and likeable as well, with Shia LaBeouf as Stanley Yelnats IV and Khelo Thomas as Zero (he has great hair).

All three of us thoroughly enjoyed this move.  Mason especially liked the funny parts.  It definitely rates a Yellow and Silver slug bug.