Harold and the Purple Crayon

Harold (Zachary Levi) and his friends, Moose and Porcupine, unbeknownst to them, live inside a children’s storybook called Harold and the Purple Crayon. With the power of the purple crayon and his imagination, Harold can draw almost anything you can imagine (and even things you can’t imagine). Harold and his friends aren’t completely alone though. The Narrator, a voice that can be heard from inside the book, has always given a helping hand to Harold and his friends.

When Harold asks the Narrator who he is, the Narrator states to Harold, “I’m the man who created you.” Harold pries even further by asking if it would be possible to meet the Narrator face to face to which the Narrator replies, “I live in the real world.” This gives Harold an idea.

Harold draws a door to the real world and heads through the door, with Moose and Porcupine following close behind him. When they go through the door, though, they all turn into humans (please don’t ask me how they suddenly became humans. I don’t quite understand it either. More on that later though). Harold and his friends are on a quest…to find the Narrator and ask him to come back to the book. All they know is that the Narrator is an old man.

During their travels a young mother, Terri (Zooey Deschanel), is driving with her son Mel, when they suddenly see Harold and his friend Moose in the middle of the road and practically run them over. While Terri apologizes to the duo she learns that Harold and Moose have nowhere to stay. Mel suggests that they stay at their home for the night.

It’s an adventure unlike anything you can imagine, with purple crayons, Harold, Moose, Porcupine and even, gasp, a villainous librarian named Gary! Let the adventure commence…

I’ll get straight to the point, “Harold and the Purple Crayon” is pretty laughable, and not necessarily in a good way. Now yes I know I’m not the target audience here and yes, I know this film requires you to suspend your disbelief, but there are aspects and certain moments in the film where I found myself thinking, “Wait… what? How did we get from here to there?”

At times the film felt disconnected. In one moment Harold is introduced in his book and within 5 minutes he and his friends are traveling to the real world. No buildup, no explanation, just “hey, let’s go to the real world!”

Speaking of the real world, some things occur in the real world that really don’t make sense (and I’m not the only critic to state this). For example, when Harold goes to the real world he stays a grown man, right, but when Porcupine and Moose go through the door they become human. Why? Why don’t Porcupine and Moose turn into a real porcupine and moose? Additionally, there are moments where human Moose (?) turns into a real moose then back into the human named Moose. Why? I asked my friend who attended the film, puzzled like myself, stated “Well maybe he turns into a real moose when he’s scared?” So wait, why doesn’t Porcupine do that? Again, I know I’m being, perhaps, too critical, but then again it’s my responsibility to be critical.

These moments of disconnect I could perhaps forgive, but one thing that really irked me was the main villain of the film, Gary. First off, he doesn’t make many appearances in the 90 minute run, and when he does he says very little. Additionally, when we learn why he wants Harold’s purple crayon (not a spoiler I promise), his reasons are very weak, making for a very weak villain. Again, I know I’m not the target audience, but really…the old saying “everyone loves a good villain” kind of rings true here.

There are some strong elements within the film. First off, the sequences where Harold uses his imagination to better those around him are absolutely fantastic. I, myself, at times, just sat there with a smile on my face as these moments were occurring, at times feeling like I was a kid myself. Additionally Zachary Levi really puts in a goofy, at times humorous, performance throughout the film, but also balances this with a few moments where he is serious. Zooey Deschanel also puts in a solid performance as Terri as well.

Content of Concern

VIOLENCE: Most of the violence in the film is relatively tame, but it is worth mentioning nonetheless. First off, during the beginning of the film Harold draws a flying, killer fish that chases after him and his friends while they are in the book (later a flying fish in the real world chases after him and Mel). Another moment that occurs in the book involves Harold and his friends skydiving; Harold and Porcupine are able to gently parachute to the ground while Moose is left to freefall straight to the ground (he is okay). In the real world, Harold goes to hug a couple old men, thinking they are the Narrator, and he ends up getting hit in the shins with a cane by one man and flipped over and onto the ground by another guy.

Harold draws helicopter blades to make a children’s coin-operated helicopter ride real. After the blades become real, the fake helicopter becomes real and flies around the store with a child inside. The helicopter destroys everything in the store. In another scene, a winged creature flies around the school and knocks the principal over. Two fictional characters turn to purple dust when a character stops using his imagination and doesn’t believe in himself anymore (the characters come back later).

During a fight sequence, someone has an axe thrown at them (the attack is blocked). A character gets zapped by an electric rod. A character is rammed in the stomach by the human Moose when he turns into a real Moose. A bully takes an elbow to the face. A character shows a bleeding cut on his finger to the camera.

LANGUAGE: Someone mentions “the world is constipated.” The made up word “shaklatar” is used to cover up a real curse word.

SEXUAL INNUENDO: The moments of sexual innuendo in the film were somewhat alarming. When Harold is asked by someone how he knows Terri, he states “well we slept over for a night” (meant to imply Harold had intercourse with Terri). After Terri’s phone number is written in the sky by Harold and his friends to encourage the Old Man/Narrator (?) to call, various old men begin to call Terri with one even stating, “ I’ll be your old man if you be my old lady.” Gary is infatuated with Terri (he even turns her into a very attractive medieval lady in his book

NUDITY: The fictitious Terri wears very light clothing, revealing her bare thighs and legs. Gary reads about, during a book reading at the librarian, about a character with distinct nipples (yep, you read that right).

OCCULT: During a fight sequence in the park, a character is given the powers of the purple crayon by eating the crayon accidentally. He is able to create weapons and open the earth by simply chanting his fictitious language from the book.

OTHER: A spiderfly that Mel creates eats a butterfly in one bite. A character is seen stealing food from a home. Mel is seen skipping school to hang with Harold. He also runs away from home to find Harold and his friends. Someone mentions pooping themselves. Characters are seen using the purple crayon to break out of a jail. There is one scene of peril involving the park turning into lava.

Spiritual Lesson

In the beginning of the film, Harold discovers that he was created by the Narrator. Afterward Harold asks the Narrator why he was created. He later discovers why later on.

There have certainly been times I’ve asked myself the question, “Why did God create me?” “What is the grand purpose that God has bestowed upon me?” Over the span of many years, God has slowly shown His plan for me. But I’ve also learned that God’s plan is revealed over time, and that it requires a great deal of patience and waiting on the Lord.

God has a purpose for each and every one of us. The Bible tells us the following about our purpose (I have emphasized certain portions of the Scriptures)…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

“The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” —Psalm 33:11

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” —Psalm 32:8

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

Closing Thoughts

Looking back at “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” I’m puzzled and disappointed at the same time. There was SO much potential for this film to really honor such a classic book that many of us grew up either having read in school or in the library. Instead the film felt rushed, disjointed and at times shocking, as the sexual innuendos and double entendrés—not to mention the violent content, is REALLY concerning, especially for a children’s film.

I really wanted to go in not believing the secular critics, to give this film a fair shot. But alas, it’s no “Inside Out 2.” I don’t think it will be winning many awards come Oscar season, but who knows?

In the end, I personally don’t recommend this film to Christian audiences. There are just slightly too many things to make parents wince and some things that will make them go, “Wow, you can put that in a children’s film?” such as the violence and the sexual content. All in all, this film is a pass. Go do something that REALLY engages your imagination: reading, writing, drawing, creating music, really anything OTHER than “Harold and The Purple Crayon.”

• Sexual Innuendo: Moderately Heavy
• Violence: Moderate
• Occult: Mild
• Wokeism: Mild
• Profane language: Mild
• Vulgar/Crude language: Mild
• Nudity: Mild
• Drugs/Alcohol: Minor

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.