Rated (PG)AnnaSpohia Robb, Jeff Daniels

Newcomer AnnaSophia Robb is adorable as India Opal Buloni in Wayne Wang's heart-warming family comedy Because of Winn-Dixie, based on the bestselling novel by Kate DiCamillo.

A smart, resourceful young girl, Opal thinks "people forgot how to share the joy". She's tired of moving from small town to small town with her father, a preacher at the Open Arms Baptist Church (Jeff Daniels); she just wants to find a home and stop being lonely.

One night she wishes for a best friend. That companion arrives in the form of a magical, trouble-causing dog she comes upon in a Winn-Dixie supermarket. She names the dog Winn-Dixie and they become inseparable, making friends with many of the town's most unusual, quirky characters, including gruff and scruffy Otis (singer-songwriter Dave Matthews), who carries around his guitar and works at the rather unique Gertrude's Pet Shop.

Academy Award winners Eva Marie Saint and Cicely Tyson provide excellent support as Miss Franny the librarian and Gloria Dump, both of whom have special stories to tell Opal about the small town and its inhabitants.

Among the musicians on the soundtrack are Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, the Beu Sisters, the Finn Brothers and Leigh Nash, whose "I've Gotta See You Smile" will make audiences do just that.

With Because of Winn-Dixie, Hong Kong-born Wang continues his successful transition to English-language family films following such acclaimed early Chinese works as Chan is Missing, Dim Sum, and Eat a Bowl of Tea.

"Heart-warming" is overused in filmmaking, but this film, about community and burdens shared, earns the moniker and has an excellent message for adults and children.

Adrian Drayton