Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505150023
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CARYN JAMES N.Y. TIMES NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
All the animals in ``Gordy'' talk. Unfortunately, their voices are so badly synched and the acting so false that the effect is as if a tiny child were putting on a puppet show.
``You're the man of the family now,'' the father pig tells Gordy. Imagine this line in a fake deep voice coming out of a sock, and you'll have a sense of how flat and low-rent a children's movie ``Gordy'' is.
On his way to rescue his family, Gordy is befriended by a girl who tours with her father as part of a country-music act.
``Jinnie Sue, time's a wastin,' gal,'' someone calls to her as she takes Gordy into her arms.
``Coming, Cousin Jake!'' she calls back. Cousin Jake is played by Tom Lester, better known as Eb from ``Green Acres,'' who certainly had a more professional pig to play off in Arnold Ziffel.
Soon a lonely little rich boy introduces himself to Jinnie Sue.
``People call me Hanky,'' he says. He doesn't seem upset by this, as any other child would. And Hanky understands Gordy's language because, as the pig tells him, he is ``pure in heart.''
When Hanky's grandfather dies, Gordy ends up running his conglomerate, but still has time to meet Jinnie Sue and her dad (played by the country singer Doug Stone) in Branson, Mo., for a song. Though Gramps was expendable, apparently Gordy's family is not, and the film makes a last-minute dash to the sausage factory to save them.
It is possible that some children will be tickled at the very idea of a talking pig, even one as bland as Gordy. They will probably be children who have never seen any movie, ever. ``Gordy'' is the film that asks, How you gonna keep them down on the farm after they've seen Simba?
GORDY
A Miramax release playing at the Valley View Mall 6. 89 minutes. Rated G.
by CNB