"Harold and the Purple Crayon" directed by Zachary Levi Earns His Worst Rotten Tomatoes Score Since 2009
The DC superhero franchise's Shazam! star Zachary Levi is going through a little bit of a critical slump with his most recent film, "Harold And The Purple Crayon." With the film receiving Levi's lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in fifteen years, the family comedy—which is based on the well-liked children's book—may be changing the actor's course in the business.
A 32% "Thoroughly Rotten" Rating
"Harold And The Purple Crayon" presently has a Tomatometer score of 32%, which is a stark drop from Levi's typical performance. Only his roles in "Big Momma's House 2" (5%), and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel" (21%) surpass this score, indicating a worrying tendency in his recent career.
A Run of Late Critical Dumps
Responses to Levi's most recent work have been conflicting. Although he had a period of critical success from 2010 to 2022, he has had a number of films with high Rotten Tomatoes scores in the last year, including "Spy Kids: Armageddon," "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," and now "Harold and the Purple Crayon." The only exception to this pattern is "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," which received a Certified Fresh 81%, demonstrating the franchise's ongoing appeal.
The Effects of Film Franchises
Despite his success in franchise Movies such as "Thor: The Dark World" and "Chicken Run 2," Levi's current downward trend may have something to do with his greater involvement in franchise ventures. His post-Shazam! career has seen him cast in a number of franchises, with varied levels of success. It's possible that this move away from standalone films, which dominated his lucrative run in the 2010s, is causing the decline in reviews.
A Possible Comeback to Form
Levi might be ready for a resurgence despite the recent failures. "Harold and the Purple Crayon"'s postponed release could signal the end of a franchise-film-heavy phase of his career. With roles that are more autonomous and varied and films like "Not Without Hope" and "The Unbreakable Boy" coming up in 2025, Levi may be on his way back to his typical critical success.
Consideration of "Harold and the Purple Crayon"
The fantasy movie "Harold and the Purple Crayon" is a retelling of the beloved children's novel by Crockett Johnson. The movie centers on Zachary Levi's character Harold, who learns that he can make his drawings come to life with the help of his purple crayon. Lil Rel Howery, Zooey Deschanel, and Jemaine Clement are also in the cast. The movie attempts to convey the quirky spirit of the novel, but based on how critics have responded to it, it might not have had the same impact.
