ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, November 27, 1993                   TAG: 9311300092
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: C-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

`WE'RE BACK!' IS A HOLIDAY TREAT FOR KIDS

"We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story" is a surefire winner for kids who were a little too young for the year's "other" Stephen Spielberg hit.

It's a short, fast, G-rated, animated feature that's a little preachy at times, but just a little. For the most part, this is a rousing cartoon adventure that knows exactly what its audience wants to see.

It begins with Rex (voice of John Goodman) playing golf. He's a full-sized Tyrannosaurus who's closer to Barney than his cousin in "Jurassic Park." Since you don't see a dinosaur playing golf every day, he explains to a young blue bird how he came to be there.

It seems that eons before in prehistoric times, Rex was "stupid and violent" like the rest of the big lizards. But then he was picked up by Capt. NewEyes' (Walter Cronkite) time machine where he was given a large dose of "brain grain." That little snack caused instant evolution and made him smart and sweet-natured. Along with his fellow saurians Vorb (Jay Leno), Woog (Rene LeVant) and Elsa (Felicity Kendal), he is sent to present-day New York because so many children want to see real dinosaurs.

Captain NewEyes advises them to find Dr. Bleeb (Julia Child) at the Museum of Natural History and to avoid his evil brother ScrewEyes (Kenneth Mars), then sends them on their way. In short order they make friends with two kids, Louie (Joey Shea), who's running off to join the circus, and Cecilia (Yeardley Smith), a poor little rich girl left alone by her parents.

Though four directors are credited, the real creative forces behind the film are Hudson Talbot's children's book and executive producer Steven Spielberg. "We're Back!" has all the earmarks of a good Spielberg movie - quick pace, humor, lots of physical action and chases, some scary moments, simple messages and an uplifting conclusion.

If adults feel like they've seen all that before, they're right. But for the young target audience, this one's a holiday treat, first-rate entertainment.

We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story: ***

A Universal release playing at the Valley View Mall 6. 66 min. Rated G. 


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