Whoopi-Goldberg Movie Reviews

A simple chore of chopping trees turns into a life lesson for a trio of peasant brothers in this fresh take on a classic tale as part of the Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child series. Drexel, Axel, and Simpleton are three strapping boys who live with their father and mother in a small kingdom. When father sends the older sons to clear the forest, they encounter a wizard--dressed as a beggar--who asks them for some food. When they brush him aside, their selfishness reaps immediate and painful consequences. Then it's Simpleton's turn to venture into the forest. He, too, encounters the beggar and responds to his plea with generosity. Rewarding Simpleton for his small act of kindness, the beggar gives him a golden goose whose feathers bring good fortune. Meanwhile, a short distance away, the king is distressed because his daughter the princess "had not laughed, chuckled, giggled, or even cracked a smile" for years. It is no surprise that the golden goose plays a part in bringing together the man and the maiden to live happily ever after. Yet first, Simpleton must meet the king's improbable conditions for marriage. Woven throughout this simple tale are subtle messages of the benefits of faith and kindness in everyday living, best understood by children ages 4 and older. --Lynn Gibson

In this astonishingly star-studded animated version of the traditional tale, Goldilocks (Raven-Symone of TV's The Cosby Show) is a black girl from a tropical village whose way of life boils down to doing what she wants without thinking of the consequences. She gets her customary comeuppance, of course, but not before she has incriminated her fellow students for something she did and alienated all her friends. As she wanders through the forest playing hooky, she meets a spider (Jenifer Lewis), a snake (Ben Vereen), and a bat (Lou Rawls) who warn her in song, but the musical trio cannot divert her from her fateful encounter with the three bears (Tone Loc, Alfre Woodard, David Alan Grier). This 25-minute production narrated by Robert Guillaume has a Caribbean flavor to its music, background, and references. (When their food is too hot, the bear family takes a minibus to a reggae concert.) This delightful interpretation of the classic is part of HBO's Happily Ever After series. (Ages 3 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs

In this astonishingly star-studded animated version of the traditional tale, Goldilocks (Raven-Symone of TV's The Cosby Show) is a black girl from a tropical village whose way of life boils down to doing what she wants without thinking of the consequences. She gets her customary comeuppance, of course, but not before she has incriminated her fellow students for something she did and alienated all her friends. As she wanders through the forest playing hooky, she meets a spider (Jenifer Lewis), a snake (Ben Vereen), and a bat (Lou Rawls) who warn her in song, but the musical trio cannot divert her from her fateful encounter with the three bears (Tone Loc, Alfre Woodard, David Alan Grier). This 25-minute production narrated by Robert Guillaume has a Caribbean flavor to its music, background, and references. (When their food is too hot, the bear family takes a minibus to a reggae concert.) This delightful interpretation of the classic is part of HBO's Happily Ever After series. (Ages 3 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs

Literate and elegant, this lovely Rabbit Ears production offers up a richly told African folk tale. It's not for the squeamish--there's the threat of cannibalism throughout--but if you think about it, it's no worse than any Grimm's fairy tale. Koi, the son of the chief, wants to command respect from the villagers. First, though, he must complete three impossible tasks (or end up as dinner). Three unlikely friends come to his assistance and, in turn, open his eyes to life and the world. By keeping to the original tale, the full scope of the powerful story can be told. It's not without humor, either. While the youngest viewers may only appreciate the colorful animated images, children 5 and up are likely to fully grasp its strong and effective moral that celebrates good karma--basically, you get what you give. Whoopi Goldberg does a most excellent job of telling the tale and Herbie Hancock's score is understated and yet distinctive and enhancing. (Ages 3 and up) --N.F. Mendoza

The award-winning HBO series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child provides updated cartoon versions of the classics that will hold your kids' attention without banging them on the head with themes. This very sweet version of Pinocchio features a star-studded voice cast, including Will Smith, Chris Rock, Charles S. Dutton, and Della Reese. Although this may make the take sound strictly African American, the spin is decidedly multicultural. Gepetto becomes "George" and Pinocchio, being "chips of pine and oak off the old block" is called "Pinoak." The big spin is on Pinocchio's insect friend, who in this version is a termite named "Woody," played with a rascally style well suited to Chris Rock. If the kid wants you to watch with him or her, you will surely enjoy watching Reese "do her thing," as she says, which is a nifty Motown number called "What's Right What's Wrong." Rock gets his chance to get down with a rap called "No Strings Attached," even if the accompanying break dance is ill served by the rudimentary drawings and movement of the characters. Older viewers may cringe at the crude animation, but it is totally appropriate for its intended audience. The villainy is very low-key so as not to disturb. And the time-honored theme that you can only be a real boy when you learn to tell the truth makes for a story that can only end "happily ever after." --Lloyd Chesley

A Mother Goose classic is retold with a Polynesian theme. A cat is shipwrecked on a mice-infested island, but this is one talking feline with a taste for twisting the truth, not rodents. He talks his new owner into making him a pair of boots in return for fame and fortune. When the owner's father dies, he leaves the plantation to the older brother and the crop to the middle brother, while the youngest brother gets Puss. Puss, ever the player, connives, manipulates, and flat-out lies to a neighboring island king and princess to get his owner noticed. But when the owner finds out about all the untruths, he sets the record straight, much to the dismay of Puss. The king and his daughter appreciate the owner's honesty, and the owner ends up engaged to the princess, proving that honesty is the best policy. Peppered with modern slang and humor, this version of Puss in Boots is very entertaining. Narrated by Robert Guillaume and starring David Hyde-Pierce as Puss, this HBO production is good for children 3 and older, but is one the whole family will enjoy. --Peggy Maltby-Etra

A Mother Goose classic is retold with a Polynesian theme. A cat is shipwrecked on a mice-infested island, but this is one talking feline with a taste for twisting the truth, not rodents. He talks his new owner into making him a pair of boots in return for fame and fortune. When the owner's father dies, he leaves the plantation to the older brother and the crop to the middle brother, while the youngest brother gets Puss. Puss, ever the player, connives, manipulates, and flat-out lies to a neighboring island king and princess to get his owner noticed. But when the owner finds out about all the untruths, he sets the record straight, much to the dismay of Puss. The king and his daughter appreciate the owner's honesty, and the owner ends up engaged to the princess, proving that honesty is the best policy. Peppered with modern slang and humor, this version of Puss in Boots is very entertaining. Narrated by Robert Guillaume and starring David Hyde-Pierce as Puss, this HBO production is good for children 3 and older, but is one the whole family will enjoy. --Peggy Maltby-Etra