Babe (1995)
There is one key scene in Babe that perfectly summarizes all of its wonder. The titular pig’s owner - a man of few words played by James Cromwell - sings a soft song of encouragement to the unlikely hero. The melody quickly turns into a dance. The farmer kicks his feet and jumps in the air with unexpected zeal energy. It's joy incarnate.
It’s the story of a kind, somewhat naïve piglet named Babe (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) adopted by Arthur Hoggett (Cromwell) and his wife (Magda Szubanski). Alone, Babe bonds with the farm's sheepdogs (Miriam Margolyes voicing Fly, Hugo Weaving voicing Rex) and aspires to become one himself.
This is a great-looking movie with fantastic special effects. The illusions which allow all of the critters to talk are first-rate. Babe, the sheep, the dogs, Ferdinand the duck (voiced by Danny Mann) don’t just sit still while their mouths move, they run around, they emote with their faces, they give performances through puppetry, trained animals, or computer effects. When I praise the film's look I’m not only referring to these effects. The way the story is broken down into different chapters, the way that the camera and its movements are used show us what the animals’ lives are like is masterful.
The characters are memorable and rich. Babe wants to be more than he is, even if he doesn’t exactly understand what that means or how to do it. He’s so sweet and devoid of cynicism, so untainted by the prejudices others have learned you can't help but cheer for him. There's plenty of attention given to the human characters as well. James Cromwell and Magda Szubanski offer nuanced performances with little details that tell volumes about what their personalities are like.
I always get a chuckle thinking about Ferdinand the duck, his mannerisms, and hare-brained ideas. I love the structure and the illusions created but they would all be little more than "neat" if they weren't placed in a great story. I hate stories about talking animals whose talking animals are actually just people with fur. If animals can communicate with humans and each other, how come we’re still eating cows? How come animals eat other animals? Are cows just so stupid, or so selfless that they willingly go to the slaughterhouse when they know they’re going to get turned into hamburgers? “Babe” handles this idea in a way that is smart and convincing, particularly when it comes to the titular pig. Subtle details throughout the movie - words from the humans’ pet cat, for instance - show the intelligence of the film. It builds up your love for Babe and makes your desires the same as his. You become more invested in this adventure than anything else at the moment AND it’s consistently funny. This is a comedy whose big laughs feel even bigger because they're blended with dramatic moments.
By the time you've gotten to the ending - a perfect moment you can never forget - Babe has more than won you over, it's become a favorite. Director Chris Noonan and his co-writer George Miller have made a picture that moves and challenges you. Family films do not get any better than Babe. This is a movie anyone can enjoy. (On Blu-ray, July 17, 2015)
