The new fantasy picture “Bridge to Terabithia” might, on its surface, seem like saccharine family fare, but like the recent “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the new film satisfyingly succeeds.

Both films present the power of the imagination and friendship to trump some of the misery and tragedy that can accompany childhood. What makes “Terabithia” work is effective direction, compelling character development via a briskly paced script, and soulful acting turns from all involved.

Here we have the story of Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson), a poor, down-on-his-luck kid with a talent for art and dreams of being the fastest runner in his class. His dreams are shattered when the new girl, and new neighbor, Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), wins the big school race.

Leslie’s a kindred spirit in that she’s as imaginative with words as Jesse is with illustrations. Both bullied at school, Jess and Leslie quickly find a friend in the other. After school one day, they decide to explore a nearby forest and find an abandoned treehouse after crossing a river via an old, worn swinging rope.

Soon, the friends find themselves using their visual and verbal talents to create an imaginary world called Terabithia, with the new playhouse doubling for a castle, trees as monsters, insects as loyal subjects and various troubles in real life doubling for various villains and foes in the Kingdom of Terabithia.

“Close your eyes, but keep your mind wide open,” Leslie tells Jesse right before he takes a necessary leap of faith.

But there comes a point in the film, a completely hard-hitting point, that takes the film from being your standard child fantasy film into something effectively moving.

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In fact, a lot of the film feels real because of acting turns from Hutcherson and Robb that genuinely capture the misery of being bullied, the fun and joy of indulging in creativity and the bitter taste of tragedy.

The supporting actors here are also very good. Robert Patrick, who terrorized one youth in “Terminator 2” and another young man in “Walk the Line,” plays Jesse’s dad. The scenes involving the boy and his father are as poignantly realistic as anything from Spielberg and French director Francois Truffaut.

The movie also features Zooey Deschanel, who never fails to beguile me with her considerable charm. She’s well cast as Jesse’s teacher and crush. Deschanel’s screen presence reminds me of a young Debra Winger, only with an amazing singing voice (see “Elf”), and there’s some of that in this movie.

“Terabithia” is an exceptional family film that rises above most by wisely staying grounded in seriousness and reality, even as it presents the limitless reaches of the human mind.

Neil Nisperos can be reached at 737-1059 or at nnisperos@lompoc record.com.