Because of Winn-Dixie

Those fearful of Hollywood sinking its destructive claws of revision and elaboration into book-to-film adaptations will be glad that no such monster got its hands on director Wayne Wang’s family film, based on Kate DiCamillo’s best-selling children’s book of the same name. India Opal Buloni warms our hearts with her sweetness and charisma as she befriends a blind alcoholic witch (Cicely Tyson), a guitar-strumming pet hypnotizer (Dave Matthews), a stubborn preacher (Jeff Daniels) and two bald-headed babies. However, the endearing tomboy does all this with the help of a shabby stray dog and a few magical Littmus Lozenges. But this film doesn’t need any help charming viewers; it does it all on its own.