Madeline . Nashville Scene . 07-20-98

Madeline

DIRECTED BY: Daisy von Scherler Mayer

REVIEWED: 07-20-98

A good children's movie is hard to find, as every year's crop of would-be kiddie classics proves. Madeline has it tougher than most, since it's aimed at children who haven't graduated from picture books yet, and whose attention span runs about the length of a bedtime story. Keeping this audience fidget-free for almost two hours of gentle storytelling is, by all indications, an insurmountable challenge.

As the red-haired, straw-hatted Parisian girl Madeline, little Hatty Jones is adorable and full of spunk. She gets into storybook situations like trips to the art museum, the circus, and the Seine (the last being rather a damp one). She's brave when she has her appendix out and takes the lead in mischief-making at her school. But unfortunately, she has to face scenarios dreamed up by movie-makers in addition to those imagined by her creator, Ludwig Bemelmans--and movie-makers like the conflict provided by bumbling crooks, a kidnapping plot, a car chase, and the threatened sale of Madeline's school.

These attempts to provide enough conflict to keep kids interested throughout the whole movie come off as clichd and tacked on. No matter how beautiful the locations or commanding the supporting performances (by Frances McDormand as Miss Clavel and Nigel Hawthorne as Lord Covington), no movie with this much filler can hold onto its young audience. Madeline might have more impact on home video, without the distractions of bored seatmates. For now, even its young target audience will enjoy Mulan more; or better yet, rent A Little Princess and see exactly how a good story can quiet down your kids for hours at a time.

--Donna Bowman

Capsule Reviews
Madeline
Madeline

Other Films by Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Woo

Film Vault Suggested Links
A Kid in King Arthur's Court
Paulie
A Simple Wish

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.