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	Racing Stripes
	Frederik Du Chau Bruce Greenwood, Hayden Panettiere, Wendie Malick, M. Emmet Walsh, Frankie Muniz, Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Mandy Moore, Snoop Dogg, Joe Pantoliano, Steve Harvey, David Spade, Jeff Foxworthy 2005		This well-meaning family film with an odd conceit — a zebra capable of racing against thoroughbreds — is occasionally elevated by funny line readings, and is just as often sunk by puerile gags. (Parents: Prepare for poo-poo prattle when two motormouth flies hang with the horses.) "Racing Stripes" is a mostly-live-action feature. Flesh-and-blood actors are intercut with a farm full of genuine animals who talk with the familiar voices of Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Frankie Muniz, Mandy Moore, Snoop Dogg, and others. The ani-mouthing is done via computer animation wizardry and animatronics. The filmmakers might have been trying for something like "Babe" or "Charlotte's Web," but the result was more like the TV ads with that obnoxious, insurance-peddling duck. Anyhoo, a cute li'l zebra (Muniz) is accidentally abandoned by a traveling circus in a Kentucky rainstorm. He's found by a retired racehorse trainer (Bruce Greenwood) whose daughter Channing (Hayden Panettiere) adores the animal and names him Stripes. The zebra grows up believing he's a racehorse, although thoroughbreds from the stables next door taunt him. Stripes' barnyard pals encourage him to make his dream of winning a big race come true; junior jockey Channing and her dad pitch in; a wicked horse owner conspires against them. It's as lame as a trotter after a bad fall. And children will be amused.


	Wednesday, December 18, 2024





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