BABE: PIG IN THE CITY (Theatrical Release USA 1998)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.0|5.0 Stars ììì

Babe: Pig in the City most likely begins its descent into failure mode when the Bull Terrier (voice of Stanley Ralph Ross ) nominates the Babe (voice of Elizabeth Daily) as the head honcho and leader of a pack of dogs, cats, and monkeys. Not that we don’t trust Bull Terriers, but somehow everything just falls apart for this film from that point on (or maybe it was when Babe and Esme (Magda Szubanski), are suspected of carrying illegal substances at the airport and need to take a hotel for the night due to missing their flight). At any rate, this Babe film just doesn’t have the necessary nous to pull its story full round for audience applause despite the fact that a good ending—where every animal gets his wish and all is well—is the denouement.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell), falls down a well and becomes temporarily bedridden. Farm bills pile up and Mrs. Esme Cordelia Hoggett enters Babe, the pig, into a sheep herding contest in the hopes that winning monies can be used to pay the farm debt.

Additional Thanks

Good work for Director and Producer George Miller. Thank you to Executive Producer Barbara Gibbs for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: The Landlady (Mary Stein) Fugley Floom (Mickey Rooney), Ferdinand/Tug (voice of Danny Mann), Zootie (voice of Glenne Headly), Bob (voice of Steven Wright), Thelonius (voice of James Cosmo), Easy/Tough Pup (voice of Nathan Kress), Easy (voice of Myles Jeffrey), The Doberman (voice of Stanley Ralph Ross), The Pink Poodle/The Choir Cat (voice of Russi Taylor), and Flealick (voice of Adam Goldberg).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. Babe: Pig in the City becomes the perfect example of sequels that fail to match the entertainment value of their prequels.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers