Thumbelina MPAA Rating: G Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: +2 1/2

Many viewers of this animated adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale may find it doesn't live up to their expectations. From the makers of AN AMERICAN TALE, it's a modernized version of the classic and departs almost completely from the original story. It does, however, have some great moments of computer animation. In this version, a "good" witch arranges for a barren woman to have a child, a tiny girl named Thumbelina, who is born from a flower. Being so small, she becomes lonely in a large world, but along comes fairy Prince Cornelius, who's just the right size for Thumbelina. They fall in love and plan to be married. But Thumbelina is kidnapped by a mother frog (voiced by actress Charo with Latin gusto) to be a wife for her son. Thumbelina escapes the frogs, but has encounters with some beetles and a Mrs. Fieldmouse (Carol Channing's voice). She almost marries a wealthy Mr. Mole (John Hurt's voice), but Prince Cornelius shows up just in time. The film is rather slow paced and its songs and music are mediocre. Even so, young children may find its colorful characters entertaining.

The presence of a witch, albeit a good one, adds a hint of the occult to the fairy tale, but there are virtually no other magical elements in the story. The Mother Frog, voiced by actress Charo, has the voluptuous characteristics of the actress. THUMBELINA the film includes the the commendable themes of perseverance and commitment to one's dreams. However, it strays from Andersen's classic tale. In it, Andersen addresses the feelings all children have at one time or another that they are ugly and don't "fit in." The film would have been better if it were true to his themes. Being a classic fairy tale, THUMBELINA has no crude language, sexual content or gratuitous violence. A cartoon entitled "I'm Mad" precedes THUMBELINA. It's from Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment Co. It's not as good technically as the ROGER RABBIT series, but is more suitable for the young.

Preview Reviewer: Pete Zimowski
Distributor: Warner Brothers, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank CA 91522