Racing Stripes Movie Review:


This engaging barnyard adventure features some nice acting from both the on-screen actors and the vocal cast. It also has a superb style that draws us in and just about wins us over with lashings of sentimentality. The problem is that if you substitute a sheepdog-wannabe pig for the racehorse-wannabe zebra--and add wit and charm--you have Babe. A much, much better film.

As an abandoned baby zebra, Stripes (voiced by Muniz) is rescued by farmer Nolan (Greenwood) and his teen daughter Channing (Panettiere). As he grows up, he befriends the farm animals--a helpful pony (Hoffman), meddling goat (Goldberg) and bewildered rooster (Foxworthy)--as well the cute show-jumper (Moore) at the track across the hill. The thing is: Stripes and Channing want to race, but Dad is dead set against it. And everyone else thinks it's just ridiculous.

The outcome is never in question, even though the filmmakers milk it for everything they've got. And the comical elements feel more than a little random (Spade and Harvey's goofball flies are one thing, but Pantoliano as a mafioso pelican?). There also, of course, must be a few villains in the form of the greedy track owner (Malick) and bully racehorses (Jackson and Rosenbaum).

So the only thing that keeps us engaged is the cute factor. And these animals are sincerely adorable, it must be said. There are also frequent funny (but not hilarious) gags to liven up the plot. Meanwhile, writer Schmidt factors in just about everything he can think of, from past glory and self doubt to foul play and an unsung hero. Not to mention the whole high-tech versus old world thing.

It's so blatantly obvious on every level that it shouldn't work at all, but Du Chau's direction is lively and colourful; and even if we never doubt where it's going, the emotional heartstrings do get tugged a few times, against our better judgement. Perhaps children who haven't seen this same story a million times will enjoy it. Otherwise, the rest of us are still waiting for an original underdog movie.



Rich Cline

Accidentally left behind by a travelling circus in Kentucky, a young zebra foal, is taken in by Nolan (Greenwood) and Channing (Panettiere) Walsh. Naming him Stripes (Muniz), the young zebra grows up on the farm next to the Kentucky Open racecourse. Seeing the thoroughbred horses training for the big race, Stripes dreams of becoming a racehorse. With the help of Channing and the rest of the animals on the farm, Stripes is about to discover if he does have the speed and the heart to reach the finishing line.

Combining talking animals and human characters may not be the most original idea, but there is something you can’t help but like about ‘Racing Stripes’.

The little zebra that could, will have you cheering for him to make it in the big race, even when you know the outcome is inevitable because the film has one big thing going for it, the characters. While the story might not be the most original, it is the inhabitants of the Walsh farm that make the movie so watchable for both kids and adults alike.

The filmmakers have gathered together an excellent vocal cast to bring these characters to life. Frankie Muniz is Stripes, the plucky zebra who dreams of being a racehorse. Dustin Hoffman is Tucker, the Shetland pony who just happens to be a master trainer. Whoopi Goldberg is Franny, a motivational goat. Joe Pantoliano is Goose, a New Jersey Pelican on the run from the mob and a wannabe hitman. Joshua Jackson is Trenton's Pride, Stripes’ main rival and Mandy Moore is Sandy, Stripes’ love interest. The comedic stylings of David Spade and Steve Harvey bring flies Buzz and Scuzz to life. What makes these performances so good is that each of them create a vocal character and are not just their off screen persona transferred into an animal.

The human characters are really secondary to the animal performers but the main players Bruce Greenwood and Hayden Panettiere, do a good job as Nolan and Channing Walsh. Greenwood is an underestimated actor who deserves a lot more acclaim than he gets and Hayden Panettiere is another good up and coming actress that will make waves on the teen scene.

‘Racing Stripes’ is a very good family movie that will appeal to everyone, whatever their age. With cute animals and a sporting, against the odds story that will have everyone cheering, this is wholesome entertainment that you can bet you are going to like.

Jamie Kelwick

 

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