Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure (G, 2003)

CHARLOTTE'S WEB 2: WILBUR'S GREAT ADVENTURE picks right up in the Spring after Charlotte's death. Wilbur has befriended Charlotte's daughters, now with neon bright hair and teen-age sounding voices. Templeton, this time without the vocalizations of Paul Lynde, is still annoying to all. His offspring scamper about causing trouble. Wilbur befriends a new black lamb who is sold to another farmer. On a trek to visit him with spiders and Templeton in tow, a disheveled-looking Wilbur is mistaken for a wild pig, and the local farmers are on guard. Meanwhile, a fox corners Cardigan. Wilbur manages to rescue him and tie up the fox. Fern, just as outspoken as ever, straightens the matter of Wilbur's mistaken identity.

Hearing of a sequel to the beloved children's classic may make parents wince. There's no comparison at all. But on its own, it's a story that is not terribly frightening and does attempt to tackle issues about friendship.

Interspersed in the plot are four songs, including a number sung by the young daughters of Charlotte as they psyche themselves up to replicate the web artistry known of their mother. Kids will enjoy these songs, though they add absolutely nothing to the story. This was a direct-to-video project, very obviously a money-making venture stemming from the success of Charlotte's Web.