 |
  
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
|
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
| Subscribe
About Us Features News Album
Reviews
|
Racing Stripes Stars: Bruce Greenwood, Hayden Panettiere, M. Emmet Walsh, Wendie Malick, and as voiceovers: Frankie Muniz, Mandy Moore, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jeff Foxworthy, Joshua Jackson, Joe Pantoliano, Michael Rosenbaum, Steve Harvey, David Spade, Snoop Dogg, Dustin Hoffman, Fred Dalton Thompson and Whoopi Goldberg Director/Scriptwriter: Frederik Du Chau and David F. Schmidt Music: Mark Isham Warner Brothers/Alcon Running Time: 90 minutes Rating: PG Website: http://www.racingstripesmovie.com Just when you think you have seen it all, here comes a film about a zebra that thinks he is a horse and a racing horse, no less. “Stripes” (voice by Frankie Muniz) lives next to a racetrack and dreams of competing. The story of small-guy-with-big-dreams has been done many times (think Seabiscuit for one) and Stripes has enough obstacles in his path to thwart a herd of zebras. Director/scriptwriter Frederik Du Chau explored similar themes in the past (Hong Kong Phooey) and does not leave a stone, excuse me, hoof unturned to wring audience heartstrings. The beginning of _Racing Stripes_ had the audience saying a collective “Ahhwahh,” as a baby zebra is accidentally left behind by a traveling circus during a rainstorm. Why no one looks for the zebra is never mentioned, but along comes a poor, humble, widower (Bruce Greenwood) who brings the little babe home. Of course, the teenage daughter (Hayden Panettiere, who does her own dangerous stunts) falls in love with the zebra and the animal stays on the farm. Fast-forward three years to Stripes falling for a jumper, Sandy (voice by Mandy Moore), and endless teasing by the thoroughbred racehorses. There is a build-up to the big race, jealousy, a villainess who owns the race horses (Wendie Malick acting like Cruella de Ville), barnyard animals who are smarter than humans and a girl who wants to race whose father is afraid of the dangers of the track. For humor, there are two horseflies (voices of Steve Harvey and David Spade) that have more lives than a cat. _Racing Stripes_ keeps itself
within a PG rating and is suitable family fare. The racing sequences are
exciting and bring the audience down onto the track. Bruce Greenwood easily
out-acts the rest of the cast who overact to the point of caricature. There
are lessons to be learned in tolerance, friendship and just plain getting
along. Joe Pantoliano's pelican, with a Jersey accent, was out of
place here. If you think humans really oversee those racetracks, think
again.
Copyright 2005 Marie Asner
|
|
|
|
