Babar: King of the Elephants (1999): Dir: Raymond Jafelace / Voices: Dan Lett, Chris Wiggins, Elizabeth Hannah, Cody Jones, Wayne Robson: Another family film distracted with nitwit situations. Title takes "King" and "elephants" as a reference to massive responsibility. Classic children's story about an elephant named Babar whose mother is shot by poachers leaving him stranded. Ridiculous situations occur when he enters a city and receives dumb reactions from everybody. He eventually meets an elderly woman and buys clothes. She is obviously senile since she gives this elephant her purse to buy clothes. Elephant or not, he could have been a thief. When he returns home he becomes the new King where he will deal with a rhino feud. Perhaps the rhinos are disappointed with the lame script. Director Raymond Jafelace knows the tale well but that doesn't render it any less dumb. Babar is an interesting personality who becomes the one character with any form of charm. The old woman is a total write off. She is in need of a good psychiatrist and heavy medication. In reality animals just aren't met with such confusion or acceptance. No, they're usually shot at. Animation is hardly on par to what it could have become. An episode of South Park may not be for the same audience as this film but the characters have far more appeal than this shameless safari. Score: 2 ½ / 10
Review of Babar: King of the Elephants
