ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 23, 1995 TAG: 9512270058
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
It would be absolutely correct to say that the new children's movie, ``Balto,'' is about the evil of prejudice, and even pretty young kids aren't likely to miss that message.
And if that weren't enough, this movie - based on a true story - is also one of the most action-packed, beautifully animated children's movies in recent memory.
A couple more things: It's pretty funny. And there aren't ANY sappy songs.
``Balto'' is about a half-breed wolf of the same name (voiced by Kevin Bacon) who hangs out on the periphery of life in Nome, Alaska, with his good friend Boris, a Russian goose (Bob Hoskins). Dogs will have little to do with Balto because he is neither sled dog nor purebreed. And the townfolk are wary of him because he is, after all, part wolf.
Not even Balto is sure what that means - until a diphtheria epidemic threatens to decimate Nome's child population.
A race is held to see which dogs will make up the team that must make a 600-mile trek through a blizzard to the city of Nenana to bring diphtheria anti-toxin back to Nome.
Balto wins the race, but is left behind - thanks to a dirty trick by the evil Darth Vader of sled dogs, Steele (Jim Cummings). Hubris is just one of Steele's tragic flaws, and he and his cowering dog team - and the anti-toxin - end up at the bottom of a ravine, their musher dead beside them.
Back in Nome, watching his girlfriend, Jenna (Bridget Fonda), grieve for her dying "master" Rosy, Balto decides to brave the storm to help guide the team home. Tagging along just for fun (lots of fun) are Boris and Muk and Luk, two of the most adorable, bumbling polar bears on record. Voiced by musician Phil Collins, Muk and Luk are like ambling piles of marshmallow fluff. They seem to think Boris is their uncle. And they can't swim. Or so they think - until challenged.
After all, this is also a movie about digging deep in troubled times to find our inner resources. What we come up with, the story tells us, is our best selves.
Directed by English filmmaker Simon Wells, ``Balto'' is an extraordinarily thoughtful animated movie. We see close-ups of a musher's boot as he struggles to keep his foothold on a flying sled runner. The dogs' shadows on the snow evoke the chill of the far north winter. And the Alaskan landscape is a beautiful but harrowing sight.
Because ``Balto'' is not a cinematic confection - that is, it doesn't keep the "bad parts" short to spare children the discomfort of wondering whether Balto will really make it - it may not be suitable for children under 4. And the bear that Balto and Jenna take on in the woods makes the abominable snowman look like the Sta-Puf guy.
But for any other person 4 to 94, ``Balto'' is well worth seeing - an honest-to-goodness holiday surprise.
Balto
*** 1/2
A Universal Pictures release showing at The Grandin Theatre and Salem Valley 8. Rated G. 78 minutes.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ``Balto'' follows the heroic journey of a half-wolf,by CNBhalf-husky as he tries to
save the people of Nome, Alaska. color.