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Racing Stripes
By J. Byron Dean 

Release Date: Jan. 14, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG - for mild crude humor and some language
Starring: Frankie Muniz (voice), Whoopie Goldberg (voice), Dustin Hoffman (voice), Steve Harvey (voice), David Spade (voice), Mandy Moore (voice), Jeff Foxworthy (voice).
Genre: Family

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We've all heard of "a horse of a different color" but Warner Brothers has galloped off in a new direction by bringing us a zebra that thinks he's a horse of a different caliber. This adorable little two-toned hero is a wonderfully strong and positive role model for both children and adults.

While the opening scenes might prove a bit emotional to smaller children, the setting of how the little guy winds up with new owners (Noah and Channing Walsh, played by Bruce Greenwood and Hayden Penettiere respectfully) are crucial to the telling of the story. When a traveling circus runs into a horrific rainstorm the zebra's trailer breaks down. In the commotion, the workers accidentally leave the baby (voiced by Jansen Panettiere) behind. Noah Walsh rescues the tiny orphan (left sitting in a cardboard box in the middle of the road) as he drives on his way home.

Walsh, a farmer, brings the baby zebra into the barn to get him dried off, fed and introduced to his teenage daughter, Channing. Of course, as only a daughter can, Channing persuades her father into letting her keep the small founding and promptly names him "Stripes." After a bottle of milk and a good drying off, Stripes is left alone to make acquaintances with his new barnyard friends.

The entire ensemble is lead by a motherly white goat, Fanny (voiced by Whoopie Goldberg) and a gentle fatherly-like Miniature Pony named Tucker (whose voice belongs to the Oscar© winning actor Dustin Hoffman). Among the collection of what would seem like unmatched friends, we find Lightning (voiced by Snoop Dog), an old hound dog that's only real job now is to lay on the front porch and sun himself, Reggie, a rooster that gives a new meaning to the term "chicken," that is voiced with wonderful nervous spunk by Jeff Foxworthy, and a late "foul" addition that comes in by way of New Jersey. With a voice that is classic of the 1930's mobsters, Joe Pantoliano gives us Goose, a pelican on the lamb who's looking for a place to lay low (and what better place than a farm?).

As Stripes (now voiced by Frankie Muniz) begins to grow and learn more about his new home, friends and surroundings he discovers that in the valley below his farm is a most amazing thing... a horse racetrack! Not realizing that he is indeed not only not a racehorse but also not a horse at all, he sets out to become the best racehorse that track has ever had.

Of course, the zebra with a zest for breaking all track records runs into a few obstacles from the racing community when they learn that an Equus, looking like a football referee, thinks he can beat the best racehorses on the track. When Stripes tries to prove that he's good, the jealous horses from the track gang up on him one night and beat him up. While the actual violence is not clearly shown, the result is a visibly battered Stripes. This moment may be disturbing for young or very sensitive children.

However, among those snooty horses, Stripes finds three pals. Two of the most unlikely of comrades are Buzz (voiced by Steve Harvey), a large black horsefly who hangs out at the track with his little brother, Scuzz (voiced by David Spade) and the third friend is Sandy (voiced by Mandy Moore from "Princess Diaries, I") a cute little filly that admires Stripes for his spunk and determination. The two horseflies romp and play among the antics of the horses, spectators and the track's mean-spirited owner, Clara Dalrymple (played by Wendie Malick from "Just Shoot Me") while Sandy offers emotional support and praise of her gentle zebra friend.

With the exception of some bathroom humor*, "Racing Stripes" is a funny and very well acted film with a strong and positive message that you can achieve your dreams with belief in yourself and hard work towards that goal. It also personifies the beauty of friendship and family.

To View the trailer go to http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/racing_stripes.html

*Ass: 2 times ( Referring to another name for a donkey. Example: "Don't make an ass of yourself." )
Butt: 3 times
Booty: 2 times
Pecker: Double entendre for a bird's beak
Scuzz horsefly says, "Pull my finger." And then passes gas.
Scuzz horsefly passes gas in a cup of coffee and bubbles come to the surface.
Horseflies fall into a pile of horse dung and Scuzz tosses a clump into his mouth.
Scuzz horsefly says, "We love any kind of food... especially candy and poop!"
Channing (girl) almost says "bitch" when getting angry at the Clara Dalrymple character but girl's father clamps his hand over her mouth before she has a chance to utter any sound. Most likely, only adults will notice this as it is very subtle.

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