Red Riding Hood (2004)

An adolescent girl Red is tasked by her mother with delivering a package to her grandmother who lives deep in the magic Forest. What she doesn't know is that her mission masks an even greater task: to carry on the age old fairy tale legacy and become Red Riding Hood. However before she can become the legendary maiden in red Red must overcome her fears to ultimately outwit and defeat the Big Bad Wolf.System Requirements:Running Time: 82 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: PG UPC: 024543249078 Manufacturer No: 2234907 Product Description

SO CUTE!

This was such a cute updated twist to the wonderful old fairy tale. Lainie Kazan was so perfect for the grandmother role. Hope to see more modern remakes of the old classics to share with my kids. August 6, 2008

Absolutely Delightful!

I wasn't sure what to expect as I came across this collection of remakes from traditional fairy tales and fables. But I have to say kid and adults alike chuckled, laughed and sang along with this very modern and hip version of Little Red Riding Hood.

My son, who is five, wants to watch it over and over again and probably would if we let him.

Buy it! June 3, 2008

A Bit Too Over the Top, Even for Me

In the real world, a young girl named Claire is preparing to sneak out for the night and meet friends when her babysitting grandmother holds things up by reading a story to her and her little brother. With some mysterious, grandmotherly magic, the pages of Grandma's book are altered to fit the tastes of her young audience. As she reads the story of "Red Riding Hood," we meet a family that parallels their own. Claire imagines herself as Red, a spirited young girl who lives in a lighthouse and is being stalked by a bloodthirsty werewolf as she disobeys her mother and takes a shortcut to her grandmother's house. Red and her kooky, New Age grandmother share the same freedom loving spirit. There's also a fairytale stereotype huntsman whom Red quickly crushes on and is a bit out of place in this otherwise modernized Red Riding Hood tale.

It's painful for me to write a 2 star review for a Red Riding Hood film. I personally adore the story, especially when the werewolf aspect is employed. However, this film, while not without a few good points, is more than a little painful to watch all too often. To go by the DVD cover, you might be expecting something really magical and spectacular, and, at times, the visuals do seem to have that look. A large amount of computer effects are employed, especially with the backgrounds and musical numbers. It works for the background stuff. If only they hadn't gotten so wacky with the musical numbers! Some of the cheesy visuals make the numbers in "The Worst Witch" look good. The songs themselves are a mixed bag, but mostly not that great. The cast is all over the place, as is the writing. I suppose one of the biggest stars here is Lainie Kazan as the grandmother, though I also found her to be one of the more annoying aspects of the film. In the "real-world" stuff, she comes off as a female Ernest Borgnine from "Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders," and in the story she's just irritating. Surprisingly, the kids are pretty good actors. Sam Oz Stone is pretty decent as Red's little brother (and Claire's too), and Morgan Thompson is probably the best thing about this 2 (or 2 and a half) star movie in the role of Red/Claire. She's got "the look" and the voice to really take her places on stage and in the movies, so hopefully we'll be seeing more of her in the future. Joey Fatone is also one of the better aspects of the film, clearly having a ball as the werewolf who probably makes this movie too scary for the audience that will appreciate it the most, 4-year-olds.

On top of all this, the DVD has no extra features beyond English and Spanish subtitles. The film is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen and continues to be way overpriced at the time of this review.
January 31, 2008

Excellent Sunday afternoon flick to watch at home

This is a modern version of the classic tale, with Californian kids. There are no really scary moments, at least not for a five year old. The wolf is more of a cartoon character, so the "violence" is silly/funny. Kids behave as kids, so the influence of the movie in your child depends on how your Parental Guidance skills are. This movie is A LOT OF FUN. Music is great with catching songs. Your kids will sing it and so will you. January 14, 2008

Your kids will love it, all right

And it's got plenty of kicks for adults that will fly right over the kids heads. Good perverted fun. Joey Fatone was brilliant. November 29, 2007

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