| 70 |
Variety
Frisky and funny enough to please pre-teens, but still witty enough to amuse even those parents who don't recognize Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg and other notables among the unseen vocal talents.
|
| 63 |
ReelViews
You may end up being pleasantly surprised, especially if you have a ten-year old girl in tow.
|
| 63 |
Chicago Tribune
Endearing but predictable.
|
| 63 |
Boston Globe
Simultaneously overplotted and simplistic, the new barnyard/racecourse comedy from Warner Brothers is predictable every step of the way, and it contains at least three too many poop jokes.
|
| 63 |
Charlotte Observer
I groaned at cliches and grinned at jokes in roughly equal measure.
|
| 63 |
New York Daily News
The special effects here are surprisingly smooth, and everyone seems to be having fun.
|
| 60 |
Los Angeles Times
No "Babe" but should delight youngsters, although parents likely will find it is sentimental in the extreme, with a plot that telegraphs every development.
|
| 50 |
Entertainment Weekly
So what disturbed me? It was the Shetland pony, which sports both Dustin Hoffman's pipes and his "I Heart Huckabees" toupee, and will haunt my nightmares forever.
|
| 50 |
Dallas Observer
The digital computer work is smooth and convincing; the animals look as if they are talking. But their voices are either devoid of personality or grating and annoying.
|
| 50 |
LA Weekly
Sweet, innocuous and about as fresh as yesterday's lettuce.
|
| 50 |
Chicago Reader
Dumb but harmless live-action comedy for kids.
|
| 50 |
New York Post
Russell Scott Smith
A predictable but pleasant kids movie that veers between old-fashioned girl-and-her-horse sentiment and "Ren & Stimpy"-style poo jokes.
|
| 50 |
Christian Science Monitor
Like most movies aimed at the younger set, Racing Stripes has easily absorbable lessons to teach: Be yourself, never stop trying if your goal is worthwhile, and so forth.
|
| 50 |
The New York Times
Dana Stevens
Racing Stripes is unlikely to ascend to the pantheon of perennially watchable children's films, but like its hero, what it lacks in skill, it makes up for in heart.
|
| 50 |
The Hollywood Reporter
At best, Racing Stripes should play nicely to youngsters with the cutoff for enjoyment extending no further than midteens.
|
| 50 |
Chicago Sun-Times
But when you think of the "Babe" pictures, and indeed even an animated cartoon like "Home on the Range," you realize Stripes is on autopilot with all of the usual elements: a heroine missing one parent, an animal missing both, an underdog (or underzebra), cute animals, the big race.
|
| 50 |
San Francisco Chronicle
Muniz, however, is hampered by Stripes' constant moping, which brings out the "Malcolm in the Middle'' star's whinier tendencies.
|
| 50 |
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
The movie, which is roughly as predictable as the attraction of flies to dung, is a hackneyed mix of sentimentality and anarchic comedy.
|
| 42 |
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Racing Stripes is oddly torn in tone: is it an old-fashioned family drama, a coming-of-age story or a crass comedy? Live action or animation? Unlike "Babe," it fails to integrate its conflicting personalities.
|
| 40 |
The Onion (A.V. Club)
A film divided against itself. Granted, neither part is particularly distinguished or appealing but the old-timey sports-movie elements at least possess a quaint charm. Unfortunately, that's wholly negated by the film's stumbling attempts at comic relief.
|
| 40 |
Village Voice
Chris Tamarri
The film shares a problem with its hero: identity crisis.
|
| 40 |
Washington Post
Although this film about a zebra who aspires to win horse races has a marvelous premise, it slows to a mediocre canter right out of the starting gate.
|
| 40 |
TV Guide
Ethan Alter
Bland family comedy.
|
| 40 |
Empire
Anna Smith
It’s been done before, and better. With pigs.
|
| 38 |
USA Today
Almost everyone in this has done better, and those who haven't, like young Ms. Panettiere, have plenty of time to do so.
|
| 0 |
Austin Chronicle
Simply put, no matter what this zebra thinks of himself, Stripes is no thoroughbred.
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