MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE

1996, Allied Filmmakers

Live action

Rating: PG

Approx. 89 mins.

THE STORY:

A fairly faithful retelling of The Wind in the Willows, in which the amiable Mole (Steve Coogan) seeks the help of the resourceful Rat (Eric Idle) after his home is destroyed by developers' trucks. Together they embark on an adventure as they try to rein in, then rescue, then restore the flighty local lord of the manor Toad (Terry Jones). 

Toad moves fickly from craze to craze, the latest being motor cars. He gets into trouble with the law when his obsession leads him to steal a car. He ends up in jail, and the pernicious weasels take over his estate. Rat, Mole and Badger help him escape and then take back his ancestral home.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• none

VIOLENCE:

• some whacks over the head, but nothing significant

TEACHING POINTS:

• nothing significant

THE UPSHOT:

The Wind and the Willows was a huge part of my childhood, but I have accepted the sad fact that it is a bit inaccessible for kids today. Of the dramatized versions of the book that I have seen, this one is the best-- good songs, action, great acting and cast. But it is still no competition for the products of DreamWorks or Pixar or what have you.

If the original story means something to you, it is worth seeing. If not....

3/5

ELF

2003, New Line Cinema

Live action

Rating: PG

Approx. 98 mins.

THE STORY:

Buddy (Will Ferrell) the orphan baby makes his way into Santa's (Ed Asner) sack one Christmas and ends up being raised as an elf at the North Pole. Although he has certain distinctive qualities (height, lack of toy-making dexterity, etc.), it isn't until he is a grown man that he discovers he is human. His elf Papa (Bob Newhart) tells him all about his mother having died and his biological father having no idea that he even exists. 

Buddy immediately sets out to find his father, Walter (James Caan), a work-obsessed book publisher in New York with a wife and son who rarely see him. Although he is originally not surprisingly dismissive of the man-child dressed in elf clothes claiming to be his long-lost son, he eventually makes an effort to get closer to him at the urging of his wife. And hilarity ensues.

Walter learns to prioritize his family. Buddy helps reignite Christmas spirit in cold New York, and gains a whole new family. 

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• damn
• hell
• stupid

VIOLENCE:

• none unless you count a snowball fight

TEACHING POINTS:

• look for the good and praise it

THE UPSHOT:

I have seen this film somewhere in the region of 15 times and have laughed every time. This is partly because of the script and casting, but mostly because Buddy is such an amazingly likable character who you just want to be with. His enthusiasm and positivity are contagious and make you want to run out and get excited about things. 

Absolutely one of the most artfully crafted films I have ever seen. Great for every age. Not to be missed. 

5/5

HERBIE: FULLY LOADED

2005, Walt Disney Pictures

Live action

Rating: G

Approx. 100 mins.

THE STORY:

Maggie Peyton (Lindsay Lohan) is the young-adult daughter of a retired NASCAR car driver (Michael Keaton) , who shares her father's talent and passion. Unfortunately, her father is too afraid that she will harm herself to let her race.

When her father tries to appease her by buying her a car, she ends up as Herbie's new owner. Her old friend Kevin (Justin Long) fixes him up, and soon the car is up to its old tricks: falling in love with a new Beetle, driving every which way he wants, and challenging the NASCAR champion Trip Murphy (Matt Dillon) to a race.

Maggie beats her father's driving ban by racing in secret as 'Max', the mysterious racer who manages to best Trip. Her luck runs out, however, when she hurts Herbie's feelings, is fond out by her father, and loses her car to the tricky Trip. She eventually learns to be true to herself and honest with those around her, and all ends happily for those that deserve it. 

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• Oh my God
• Stupid

VIOLENCE:

• some car crashes, but nothing gory or violent

TEACHING POINTS:

• Accept and appreciate those you love for who they try are

THE UPSHOT:

If I hadn't seen the original Herbie series not too long ago, I may have been tempted to wax nostalgic about the classics and how remakes are nothing compared to the originals yada yada. Having seen them all, however, I can only say that given how awful they actually were, a remake/ update was long overdue, and that this is a pretty good one at that. The story and themes remain true to the Herbie spirit, but the acting is better, the special effects much improved, the script is bearable and the hero(ine) is actually likable.

Herbie is funnier in this than in any of the originals, and younger kids will respond to the humour of his antics. The messaging is also not bad: be honest, be true to yourself, value those around you, accept those you love for who they are, etc.

A word to the wise: do not bother watching the blooper reel in the extra features unless you really really like hearing Lindsay Lohan squeal. Like nails on a blackboard.  

3.5/5

JAMES & the GIANT PEACH

1996, Walt Disney Pictures

Live action & Animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 78 mins.

THE STORY:

James is an orphan being raised by two of the least pleasant aunts imaginable (Joanna Lumley & Miriam Margoyles). He is rescued from his misery by a mysterious man (Pete Postlethwaite), who gives him some magic crocodile tongues, which turn a peach and some bugs from his garden into massive giants.

The peach becomes a  veritable tourist attraction which the aunts exploit to the best of their ability. James and his new giant insect friends, however, manage to escape from the confines of the garden and embark on an adventure across the ocean to New York. Along the way they have some interesting and frightening experiences, but these only serve to solidify their friendship.

The band arrive in New York to much acclaim and all live happily ever after.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• Eat me
• Ass

VIOLENCE:

• one potentially scary scene with underwater skeleton ghosts 

TEACHING POINTS:

• Really just a little guy wins over bad guys fantasy without a lot of moralizing

THE UPSHOT:

Growing up, this was one of my absolute favourite books, so I was fully prepared to be disappointed. But I was not. It didn't blow the grown ups or the 6 year-old in the room away, but it was enjoyable, the perfect length and sweet. The 6 year old in the room was especially pleased by the music and by the depth of the relationships James formed with the insects. She was, however, scared during the ghost shipwreck scene.

Although we all liked the transition in theory, no one in the room was a fan of the stop-motion animation when it first appeared, but before long we had all got used to it. The old-fashionedness of it ended up adding to the quaintness.

Younger kids won't get some of the references and dialogue, but they will still get the most out of it. Worth an hour or so of your time.   

3.5/5