Racing Stripes

Variety Joe Leydon

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.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

You may end up being pleasantly surprised, especially if you have a ten-year old girl in tow.

Chicago Tribune Allison Benedikt

Endearing but predictable.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

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.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

I groaned at cliches and grinned at jokes in roughly equal measure.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

The special effects here are surprisingly smooth, and everyone seems to be having fun.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

No "Babe" but should delight youngsters, although parents likely will find it is sentimental in the extreme, with a plot that telegraphs every development.

Entertainment Weekly Scott Brown

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.

Dallas Observer Jean Oppenheimer

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.

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

Sweet, innocuous and about as fresh as yesterday's lettuce.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

Dumb but harmless live-action comedy for kids.

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.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

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.

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.

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

At best, Racing Stripes should play nicely to youngsters with the cutoff for enjoyment extending no further than midteens.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

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.

San Francisco Chronicle Carla Meyer

Muniz, however, is hampered by Stripes' constant moping, which brings out the "Malcolm in the Middle'' star's whinier tendencies.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

The movie, which is roughly as predictable as the attraction of flies to dung, is a hackneyed mix of sentimentality and anarchic comedy.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Paula Nechak

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.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

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.

Village Voice Chris Tamarri

The film shares a problem with its hero: identity crisis.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

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.

TV Guide Ethan Alter

Bland family comedy.

Empire Anna Smith

It’s been done before, and better. With pigs.

USA Today Mike Clark

Almost everyone in this has done better, and those who haven't, like young Ms. Panettiere, have plenty of time to do so.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Simply put, no matter what this zebra thinks of himself, Stripes is no thoroughbred.