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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 29, 1995                   TAG: 9508010006
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THIS DISNEY `DUMBO' IS FOR ADULTS, TOO

But the setting is Vietnam, and even though the film is based on real events, it's difficult to accept a story about American soldiers making promises to Vietnamese villagers as light entertainment. For many of us, there's still a lot of baggage in that area.

Younger kids don't carry that baggage, though. They're the audience for the film, and if the reaction of the crowd at one Friday matinee is any indication, they like it a lot. And why not? This fast moving tale of kids and animals is much more enjoyable than "Free Willy 2."

Special Forces Capt. Sam Cahill (Danny Glover) observes the Ho Chi Minh trail from a Montagnard village. As his replacement, Capt. Doyle (Ray Liotta), is about to take over, the village's elephant is killed by the Viet Cong. Cahill promises to have a new elephant in place ASAP. Doyle thinks it's unnecessary, but, following orders, agrees to take part. The "best and brightest" assigned to help them are Poole (Denis Leary), the familiar scrounger who can find anything - for a price; Ashford (Doug E. Doug) who's a week away from his discharge; and Farley (Corin Nemec) the farm kid who hates animals.

When they locate an elephant, Bo-Tat (Tai), they find that a young orphan, Linh (Dihn Thien Le), is part of the deal, too. They spend the rest of the film transporting Bo-Tat across 200 miles of jungle and river to the mountain village.

Though there are no surprises in the story, director Simon Wincer (``Lonesome Dove,'' ``Free Willy'') tells it simply enough for most kids to follow. He never talks down to them, and there's an honesty to the adult characters that's rare in kids' films. Glover and Liotta also generate that elusive screen chemistry.

In the end, "Operation Dumbo Drop" is one of the Disney studio's more enjoyable and successful live-action features. Recommended for grown-ups, too.

Operation Dumbo Drop

***

A Walt Disney Pictures release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View 6. 104 min. Rated PG for some violence, pachyderm potty humor and a little rough language.