The Pagemaster

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The Pagemaster ★½ 1994 (G)

Timid Richard (Macauley) is basically scared of his own shadow but, during a storm, he's forced to take refuge in a mysterious library with an even odder librarian, Mr. Dewey (Lloyd). Richard's intrigued by the library's mural, which turns out to be the doorway to an animated universe where the wizardlike Pagemaster (voiced by Lloyd) and other literary characters help Richard discover his strengths and overcome his fears. Mildly amusing but kids may not know who the characters refer to unless they're readers (a good intro, perhaps?) 76m/C VHS, DVD . Macaulay Culkin, Christopher Lloyd, Ed Begley Jr., Mel Harris; D: Joe Johnston, Maurice Hunt; W: David Casci, David Kirschner, Ernie Contreras; M: James Horner; V: Christopher Lloyd, Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Stewart, Frank Welker, Leonard Nimoy.