Harold and the Purple Crayon

The book has charmed children for generations, but the new film version of Harold and the Purple Crayon is devoid of charm for moviegoers of any age.

Despite some stylish violet-hued visuals, this off-putting meta adaptation from director Carlos Saldanha (Ferdinand) mostly jettisons the wholesome enchantment of the source material in favor of a frenetic fish-out-of-water adventure that turns its titular protagonist into a wide-eyed, middle-aged simpleton.

We’re briefly introduced to Harold and his magical crayon within the confines of his hand-drawn safe space, where he’s comforted by the omniscient guidance of the father-figure Old Man (voiced by Alfred Molina).

When his narration suddenly stops, panicked Harold (Zachary Levi) draws a portal to the “real world” to find him, accompanied by loyal pals Moose (Lil Rel Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds), who take on human form.

The charismatic Harold brings his gift with him, along with his hopeless naivete, which turns him into a happy-go-lucky genie of sorts for strangers he meets.

One act of goodwill leads to Harold being struck by a car driven by Terry (Zooey Deschanel), a struggling single mother with an impressionable preteen son (Benjamin Bottani). The youngster connects with Harold and agrees to help on his quest, much to the disbelieving Terry’s chagrin.

Once the crayon falls into the wrong hands, Harold gets a harsh dose of reality that jeopardizes his ability to find his way home while setting up a silly, effects-driven final showdown.

The mischievous antics and persistent mugging of Harold and his pals generate a few laughs before wearing thin. It’s worth noting that Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows) steals his scenes as an eccentric librarian and fledgling fantasy author.

Unlike the book, the film targets kids with short-attention spans by emphasizing mayhem at every turn. Fortunately, Harold has a knack for sketching contraptions that invite action set pieces, from an airplane to a skate ramp to a bicycle built for two.

While hammering home lessons about self-esteem, friendship, and following your dreams, the screenplay struggles to blend its worlds beyond its visual gimmicks. It also fails to resonate as a half-hearted exploration of artistic inspiration and the lasting connection between a writer and their characters.

Along the way, Harold experiences a sense of wonder that doesn’t translate to viewers. It’s a movie promoting the power of imagination that’s not very imaginative.

Rated PG, 92 minutes.