The all sub-plot story is a veritable self-help manual for tweenies-a sort of Se7en for ages seven-and-up-with greed, pride, sloth and envy bested by humility, team work and fair play.

Take the kids and have a nap in the dull bits.

It may sound like cute family entertainment, but the dog's no good - he's unappealing and looks depressed.

...an exceedingly hit-and-miss endeavor that is, in the final analysis, foiled by an often palpably overlong running time of 111 minutes...