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Racing Stripes By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- A zebra finds his inner thoroughbred and proves he has the heart of a champion in the delightful family comedy "Racing Stripes" (Warner Bros.). Directed by Frederik Du Chau, the charming feel-good fable blends live-action and computer-generated talking animal effects telling the story primarily from the point-of-view of its two-toned protagonist (think "Babe" with a bridle). Frankie Muniz provides the voice of Stripes, a zebra who falls off a circus truck during a heavy rainstorm and is rescued by Nolan Walsh (Bruce Greenwood), a widower and former horse trainer who takes the foundling back to his Kentucky ranch. Walsh walked away from his past life after his jockey wife was tragically killed in a horse-racing accident. Worried that his saddle-savvy daughter (a radiant Hayden Panettierre) could suffer the same fate, the overprotective Walsh forbids her to ride. Stripes, who arrives on the scene not sure "who" or even "what" he is, grows up thinking that he is a horse and dreams of racing with the much larger colts at a neighboring track. Wendie Malick plays Clara Dalrymple, Walsh's former boss and the cold-hearted queen of the Kentucky racing circuit. Led by an imposing Man-of-Warlike steed called Sir Trenton (Fred Dalton Thompson), her stable of super stallions derides Stripes for his lack of size, pedigree and exotic appearance. Their ridicule only makes the zebra more determined to show them that he is horse enough to run with the best of them. An opportunity to do that arises when an old-timer at the track (M. Emmet Walsh) witnesses the zebra's speed firsthand and urges Walsh to enter Stripes in a prestigious derby. Walsh refuses at first -- especially when his daughter petitions him to let her be the jockey -- but has a change of heart after a walk down memory lane orchestrated by Stripes' barnyard buddies, including a goat (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg), a pretty filly (voiced by Mandy Moore), and a wise-but-crusty Shetland pony (voiced by Dustin Hoffman). And though its crowd-pleasing ending is never much in doubt, the film is a fun and lively ride right out of the starting gate and should leave the competition in the dust. Humor is provided by Goose (voiced by Joe Pantoliano), a "hit-bird" pelican -- who never hits his target -- on the lam from New Jersey's feathered mob, and Buzz and Scuzz (voiced by Steve Harvey and David Spade), a pair of poop-preoccupied horseflies, who admit they are "the reason why they invented swatters." Echoing the underdog theme of "Seabiscuit," the film imparts a positive message about acceptance and overcoming challenges by believing in yourself. No matter what color yours are, "Racing Stripes" is a winner. The film contains some ethnic stereotyping and some mildly crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. END Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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