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'Hoodwinked' spoofs Little Red Riding Hood with mixed results

By ELEANOR RINGEL GILLESPIE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Little Red Riding Hood meets "Rashomon" in the animated feature "Hoodwinked," a fitfully successful revision of the classic fairy tale.

When the forest police are called to Granny's House, they find Red (voiced by Anne Hathaway), the Wolf (Patrick Warburton) in Granny clothing, Granny (Glenn Close) tied up in the closet and a lumbering Woodsman (James Belushi) who appears to be the hero of the moment.

The Weinstein Co.

'Hoodwinked'

The verdict: Some funny bits, but mostly an overlong fractured fairy tale.

Directors: Tony Leech, Todd Edwards, Cory Edwards
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, James Belushi, Anthony Anderson, Patrick Warburton
Run time: 80 minutes
Release date: Jan. 13, 2006
Rating: PG for some mild action and thematic elements.
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On the web
Official movie site
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Trailers require Quicktime

But once Detective Bill Stork (Anthony Anderson) and Chief Grizzly (Xzibit), joined by Nicky Flippers (David Ogden Stiers), a dapper frog with a William Powell "Thin Man" moustache, start asking questions, nothing is very clear. All four have their own version of events, and their testimony could possibly lead to the capture of the Goody Bandit, who's been making off with recipes for pies, cakes and other baked goods. (After the Three Bears were robbed, they had to close their place down.)

The different stories intersect amusingly and some of the creative additions to the characters are fun. For example, the Woodsman is really an aspiring actor pretending to be a woodsman for an audition. And the Wolf is an investigative reporter, hoping to nail the Goody Bandit himself.

Unfortunately, other creative additions don't work as well. Like the old coot of a goat who likes country music, or the creepy little rabbit who turns up everywhere. And the "Shrek"-style nudge-nudge jokes aimed at adults are tiresome.

On the plus side, the original songs aren't bad and the voice talent is strong. Especially Warburton, who's got the sound of hard-boiled film noir dialogue down pat. "She seemed happy," he muses as Red makes her way through the woods doing her errands. "A little too happy. Who does she move the goodies for? And why the hood?"