HOODWINKED! — ** — Animated film starring the voices of Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, Patrick Warburton and others; rated PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs).
The animation in "Hoodwinked!" is so crude-looking that at times it appears the film was made on a home computer.
Frankly, the script isn't much better. It's filled with pop-culture references and is so heavy on other, unfunny show-biz jokes that you have to wonder if the filmmakers began compiling them after they saw the "Shrek" movies. (This movie is very derivative of the "Shreks.")
In fact, the only thing that saves this animated comedy from being a complete bust is its stellar voice cast, which includes Glenn Close, Patrick Warburton and David Ogden Stiers. And "Princess Diaries" star Anne Hathaway voices the character of Little Red Riding Hood in this "true" version of her fairy tale.
The story has a pair of bungling cops (voiced by rapper-turned-actor Xzibit and Anthony Anderson), as well as a slick lawyer named Nicky Flippers (Stiers) taking testimony from Red, her not-so-feeble Granny (Close), the Big Bad Wolf (Warburton) and the Woodsman (James Belushi) as they try to crack the case of the mysterious Goodie Bandit, who is apparently trying to run local bakeries out of business.
Filmmakers Cory and Todd Edwards are novices, which may explain why they settle for the easiest type of humor, parody, but they're not very successful at it. Also, turning the character of Granny into an extreme-sports athlete isn't funny, and neither are the numerous references to the "Fletch" movies, which few, if any, audience members will understand.
Still, the always goofy Warburton does amuse as the Wolf, as does Belushi, who is clearly trying to channel some Arnold Schwarzenegger into his performance. Unfortunately, their efforts are offset by Andy Dick, who manages to come off as an even more obnoxious voice performer than a live-action performer.
"Hoodwinked!" is rated PG for scenes of animated violence (mostly slapstick, though there is some explosive mayhem), crude humor involving bodily functions (as well as some suggestive talk), and some brief drug content (references). Running time: 86 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com