Whoopi-Goldberg Movie Reviews

The Lion King 1½ is an ingenious sequel that retells the original film's story from the perspective of best pals Timon the meerkat (voiced by Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa the warthog (Ernie Sabella). Anyone who has wondered how this odd couple met will find out here, beginning with Timon's flight from home following disgrace and his chance encounter with the sweet but lonely Pumbaa. With the arrival of young Simba (Shaun Flemming), The Lion King's familiar tale is reborn via a fresh angle, fleshed out by returning characters Rafiki the wise monkey (Robert Guillaume), Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), and Simba's love interest, Nala (Moira Kelly). While the retooled narrative proves a novel experience, The Lion King 1½ is really a vehicle for voice actors Lane and Sabella, whose comic performances are shamelessly, broadly funny. Matthew Broderick, Julie Kavner, and Jerry Stiller are also in the vocal cast. --Tom Keogh

In this animated version of the classic fairy tale, narrated by Robert Guillaume, Rapunzel has the misfortune of being born to a humble couple living next door to an evil "hoodoo diva" (Whoopi Goldberg) in New Orleans. When Dad (Meshach Taylor) gets caught sneaking some rapunzel herb from the wicked Zenobia's garden for his pregnant wife's jambalaya, he makes a deal with the diva that forfeits their right to the baby if it's a girl. So Rapunzel--named after the herb that announced her fate--goes to live next door, only to be imprisoned in a tower and forced to answer the command "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair, girl." That is, until she is romanced and eventually rescued by a prince, making for the kind of ending that gives the HBO multicultural series its title of "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child." Embellished by song and humor, this series will entertain ages 3 and older as well as adults. --Kimberly Heinrichs

This updated version of Hans Christian Andersen's classic Thumbelina is set by a river in a rain forest in South America. A childless woman prays every day to be blessed with a child. One day, a rare exotic flower floats down the river. Wrapped in its beautiful leaves is Thumbelina, a child no bigger than the woman's thumb. The woman rejoices in her answered prayers. As Thumbelina grows older (not taller), she yearns to "have an adventure." And what an adventure this street-smart, strong girl ends up having- -she is kidnapped by an overzealous mother frog, swept away by floodwaters, and set to marry a sinister bat prince. Rescued and returned to her mother, Thumbelina learns the power of love and friendship, and that appearances aren't always what they seem.

Originally produced for HBO, this version of Thumbelina is multicultural and modern. Narration by Robert Guillaume and the voice talents of Rosie Perez as Thumbelina are wonderful additions. This version has fun with the culture (example: Thumbelina's bed is an avocado) Viewers can also learn Spanish names for things as they go along on Thumbelina's rain-forest adventure. Muy bueno! Good for children 3 and older, but one the whole family will enjoy. --Peggy Maltby-Etra

This updated version of Hans Christian Andersen's classic Thumbelina is set by a river in a rain forest in South America. A childless woman prays every day to be blessed with a child. One day, a rare exotic flower floats down the river. Wrapped in its beautiful leaves is Thumbelina, a child no bigger than the woman's thumb. The woman rejoices in her answered prayers. As Thumbelina grows older (not taller), she yearns to "have an adventure." And what an adventure this street-smart, strong girl ends up having- -she is kidnapped by an overzealous mother frog, swept away by floodwaters, and set to marry a sinister bat prince. Rescued and returned to her mother, Thumbelina learns the power of love and friendship, and that appearances aren't always what they seem.

Originally produced for HBO, this version of Thumbelina is multicultural and modern. Narration by Robert Guillaume and the voice talents of Rosie Perez as Thumbelina are wonderful additions. This version has fun with the culture (example: Thumbelina's bed is an avocado) Viewers can also learn Spanish names for things as they go along on Thumbelina's rain-forest adventure. Muy bueno! Good for children 3 and older, but one the whole family will enjoy. --Peggy Maltby-Etra

The dancing daughters have relocated from Northern Europe to Spanish- speaking southern climes in this animated HBO Happily Ever After production. El Rey Marti (Hector Elizondo of TV's Chicago Hope) despairs of divining the method by which his dozen daughters escape the palace each night to ruin their perfectly good dancing shoes. So he makes a royal proclamation: Whoever solves the mystery gets a kingship and the daughter of his choice. The offer brings a long line of men to the palace, ranging from a sexist pig of a prince to a humble singing soldier (Latino warbler Jon Secada). The lowly enlistee and one of the royal daughters (TV hostess Daisy Fuentes) fall in love, and one can guess by the series title what happens. This 26-minute retelling of the classic fairy tale is jauntily narrated by Robert Guillaume and further livened up by mariachi music, a conga line, and a big dollop of humor. Ages 3 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs