What is going on in The Tale of Despereaux? This animated fairytale opens with two main plots running simultaneously, and a few other subplots bubbling below the surface. There are many stories being told at once - all of them badly.

Set in a kingdom far far away, it has a little mouse named Despereaux (voice of Matthew Broderick) who is desperate for a life of adventure and derring-do. And then there is Roscuro the gourmet rat who has traveled far and wide for a taste of the famous soups that the kingdom serves.

When Roscuro accidentally causes the death of the queen, it sets in motion several other subplots involving numerous other characters.

Now we Fridae folks have never read the bestselling children's book by Kate DeCamillo on which the film is based, but we're sure the book wouldn't have sold so well if it was this messy. Directors Sam Fell and Rob Stevenhagen should have just focused on one character - two at most - and told the story from his perspective.

The rest, as they say, is doodad.