The Adventures of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina

On the surface, this film has a lot going for it. An interesting crossover premise, a compelling protagonist, some intense themes, and a heart-warming message. Unfortunately, it falls flat on all of these things.

Making Thumbelina a character who is easily abused and exploited is a refreshing take, but this was only really portrayed in the first 20 minutes and then turns into a basic kids' adventure film with conflict that's often easily overcome in like 5 minutes. There's also a lot of inconsistencies and plot holes in the story, like how Tom Thumb was originally a slave of the circus but has somehow escaped with no explanation. Thumbelina, being as headstrong as she is, never thinks to run away until another character tells her about her village.

Out of all the characters, Thumbelina is the only one with a clear arc and personality. Unfortunately, she's often inconsistent and doesn't really go through any obstacles that test her flaws and grow her as a character. She's also pretty unlikeable as she insults almost every character that she encounters on the first meeting.

On a technical level, the colorful and expressive animation will appeal to children, but there are some points where the animation looks sloppy and unfinished. The music sounds nice, but it ranges from bland (I'm All Alone) to bizarre (One Two Cha Cha Cha).

It may appeal to really young children, but some of the dark scenes might scare them or make them uncomfortable. But I think this will be too silly and safe for the preteen crowd. Personally, I think it should've just went the dark route as that's where the movie really shines while still keeping a fairly lighthearted atmosphere for the younger children.

I've always loved this film ever since I was kid and I love watching it again and again. All the songs were fun and enjoyable and I loved all the characters from the bugs to the mole minions. The best of all was especially the romance between Tom and Thumbelina. They are so cute together and their personalities go really well too as they are somewhat opposite because of their different upbringings, but they bring out the best in each other. Another thing I love about this film is how it teaches a person to stand up for themselves and speak their mind. However, my only compliant is that I've often felt the ending was rather faced paced when Tom and Thumbelina find their real home and Thumbelina reunites with her long lost royal family. Aside from that, this is a great film with lots of adventure, comedy, music, friendship and romance that I'm sure anyone will enjoy. I know I do as I've always cherished this film and I still watch it to this day.

It's low budget animation (I heard for around one million total!) but it still is good to watch. Some great songs. Clever and funny. The Mole King steals the film. Liked the look too. Wasn't your ordinary plain looking backgrounds. Art Direction was nice too.

These days cartoons are getting worst and worst. The nice story is somehow lost, when too much of singing is added. Also, the characters aren't created anymore to look nice and funny, the graphics aren't nice and the whole movie is boring...

It was but two and a half years ago that I saw an ad for this Miramax/Hyperion straight-to-DVD release on TV. From what I saw in it, I hoped it was nice and looked forward to it.

Then, on the morning of Sunday, February 20th, at noon, it premiered on the Disney Channel. Still expecting something nice, I gave it my best shot...

And what can I say? From the looks of things, DTV cartoons don't get any much worse than this...

It's such a living shame that the studio who brought a talking toaster and his friends to the world in the 80's--by that I mean Hyperion--is setting its standards down in this horrible marriage of two famous fairy tales. The animation is the most cheaply-made I have ever encountered, some of the lines are among the industry's bluest, and the musical rampage--well, what can I ever think about that?--is just forgettable.

The film suffers mainly in its two biggest problems:

1) Elijah Wood--aka Frodo the Hobbit--starring as Tom, among all people?! As miscast as "The Wiz's" Diana Ross playing a grown-up Dorothy, and "Hook's" Robin Williams in the role of (ironically) the boy who never grew up, Peter Pan. Why couldn't they get anyone younger than that?

2) Just how on earth can two people, who have never met each other, reunite?!! One of the biggest plot holes ever discovered in a cartoon. (Indeed...you have been WARNED!!!)

Even puzzling is the participation of Bebe Neuwirth from "All Dogs 2", as Thumbelina's mom, and..."America" author Jon Stewart?

So, for those before me who have watched it, I urge you to steer clear of this mess, and stick with either the 1994 Don Bluth version of "Thumbelina", or MGM's 1959 adaptation of "tom thumb"!

ALSO RECOMMENDED: Pirates of the Caribbean 1, the LOTR trilogy, The Triplets of Belleville, Sen to Chihiro... (Spirited Away), Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias, The Brave Little Toaster, and the Shrek films.

6\10 -- A good watch for all its detestable worth, but (unless you're under age 5 and don't have any good sense of Hollywood) not worth watching again in your lifetime.