Entertainment Weekly reviews " Softley 's adaptation of ` ` Inkheart '' ` ` ' '' is best - selling 2003 young - adult novel by Cornelia Funke . In Funke 's universe -- given voice in a screenplay by fantasy-friendly playwright Literature House has dangerous talent for bringing characters from books to life . It stars Brendan Fraser , Paul Bettany , Helen Hunt and Eliza Hope Bennett .
Entertainment Weekly reviews " Softley 's adaptation of ` ` Inkheart '' ` ` ' '' is best - selling 2003 young - adult novel by Cornelia Funke . Literature House has dangerous talent for bringing characters from books to life . It stars Brendan Fraser , Paul Bettany , Helen Hunt and Eliza Hope Bennett .