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Racing Stripes
Talking animals in a movie are not generally a selling point for me. There have been exceptions like “Cats and Dogs” a movie of such unsurpassed dodginess that they couldn’t get respectable actors and had to settle for Jeff Goldblum. Racing Stripes doesn’t classify for uber-dodgy status and so managed to rope in A-list stars like Dustin Hoffman and Whoopi Goldberg. Frankie Muniz is the main character, but seeing as how you don’t have to look at him, you can put up with the voice.
In the standard sporting movie plot, the rookie underdog has to overcome his own doubts and failings in order to show what he’s made of and ultimately triumph. In this case, the failings are being a zebra trying to compete with race horses. You know everything is going to work out. The good people have good things happen and the bad people are punished.
While the film probably didn’t need to have a paranoid hitbird, a pelican of all things, or what appears to be a brain damaged rooster (Jeff Foxworthy) although there probably wasn’t a whole lot of brain there to begin with, their inclusion does allow for some of the more humorous moments and one-liners. It’s these small touches that give Racing Stripes it’s charm.
Dodginess
Racing Stripes is a childrens movie and doesn’t really have a whole lot of dodginess when approached from that angle. The Pelican called Goose who’s a mob hitman is probably the dodgiest character, and manages to pull this one up to a 2 on the Stay Puft Marshmallow Scale. You’d think that the dodgiest moment would be the zebra winning the race, but that was expected and so isn’t dodgy. However, the zebra racing the mailman and subsequently running into a tree was unexpected and definitely rates as the dodgiest moment, although the pelican brings in a close second.
Rewatchability Rating
There’s nothing wrong with Racing Stripes, but it’s not going to be a film that you watch repeatedly, unless you have children. Fortunately, it’s watchable and amusing and gets a respectable 3 on the rewatchability index.
Most Memorable Quote
There are any number of one liners and corny jokes that would be killer on the school playground, but only two really memorable lines, both from the Rooster “(Jeff Foxworthy). “Well subdivide me and Kentucky Fry me.” And “I see a bucket of dead relatives, extra crispy.” Yes, these are only funny and memorable because it’s the southern rooster that says them, but, they are still amusing and chuckleworthy.
Final Thoughts
Racing Stripes is a fairly typical Disney family movie, even though it’s not made by Disney. The underdog comes out on top through perseverance, the evil woman gets her comeuppance, and you just finish watching it feeling a little bit happier. And we all could use more happiness.