Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504170034
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That said, for parents who think Spring Break has lasted forever and have had it up to their eyebrows with the little darlings, this movie is a perfect place to park the kids for an hour or so. The bright colors, simple story and pleasantly forgettable songs will keep them happily occupied, though this isn't the kind of movie they'll want to watch over and over.
The hero is Hubie (well-voiced by Martin Short), a shy klutzy penguin who's in love with Marina (Annie Golden). In Adelie penguin society - and in the script by Rachel Koretsky and Steve Whitestone - the male courts the female by giving her a pebble, and competition among males is fierce. The nasty Drake (Tim Curry) also has his eye on Marina.
Though Marina has assured Hubie that it's not the pebble that counts, he finds the perfect stone. Before he can present it to her, he's swept away from their home on the Antarctic ice. All seems lost for the hapless Hubie until he meets Rocko (Jim Belushi), a penguin with an attitude and a dream to fly. He reluctantly agrees to help Hubie find his way back.
The credits list the film as ``A Don Bluth Ireland Limited Production.'' No director is named, and the lack of any individual vision or style is apparent. The animation is imaginative but cold. Barry Manilow's songs serve as transitions over the narrative shortcuts. None of those flaws seemed to bother the young audience at a recent screening. There was no activity in the aisles and little restlessness.
``The Pebble and the Penguin'' is no ``Lion King,'' but the children enjoyed it. The feature is preceded by an unremarkable short cartoon, ``Driving Mr. Pink.''
The Pebble and the Penguin
** 1/2
An MGM Release playing at the Salem Valley 8. 72 Mins. Rated G.
by CNB