THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

1984, Cosgrove Hall Films

Stop motion

Rating: G

Approx. 78 mins.

THE STORY:

Sick of cleaning, Mole wanders out in the wood, where he runs into his friend Rat. The two do some leisurely catching up then decide to visit Toad, scion of the local gentry. Along the way they pick up Badger, an old friend of Toad's late father, who they hope will be able to straighten out the infamously irresponsible amphibian. 

Toad's fanaticism for vehicular fads does not combine well with his recklessness and he ends up in jail for misappropriation of a car. With the help of a sympathetic jailer, he manages to escape, only to discover that weasels have occupied Toad Hall. Badger, Rat, Mole and Toad then undertake a valiant campaign to retake the manor.  

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• Fatface
• Stupid

VIOLENCE:

• Punching, hitting, falling

TEACHING POINTS:

• There's no place like home
• Actions have consequences

THE UPSHOT:

I grew up on this book and- yes, I'm dating myself- accompanying records, so I really wanted to like this. Unfortunately, this version of the story is a victim of technological progress. The stop motion is so slow and jerky that it just can't compete with newer films.  This is particularly sad during what is supposed to be the action scene climax, which instead seems like visually confusing slow motion. It also doesn't help that some of the language is very dated and very British.

My 4 year-old found this "boring" and "ugly." Sadly, I couldn't disagree.    

1/5