‘Pippi’s’ Spirit Makes Up for Other Flaws

Paul Bunyan, Batman and the White Power Ranger have their place. But to 8- or 9-year-olds, Pippi Longstocking is the first superhero they can truly embrace as one of their own.

For one thing, she’s their age, give or take. For another, she can probably wrestle each of the aforementioned powers to the ground without once forsaking her broad, imperturbable grin.

And, most important to a child’s fondest wish-fulfillment, she does whatever she wishes to do and can take care of herself without being mean to anyone. Even to those who deserve otherwise.

Astrid Lindgren’s epic heroine in scarlet pigtails deserves a new epic live feature movie, which this animated version of her 1945 debut novel is not. Still, this feature-length cartoon works well enough within its self-imposed boundaries to be a competent, no-frills rendering of Lindgren’s whimsical universe of dull-witted authority figures and supremely intelligent pets, of circus strong men, silly thieves and kids walking backward for the fun of it.

In case you’ve forgotten the story, Pippi (voice by Melissa Altro) is the globe-trotting daughter of a ship’s captain who is swept overboard during a storm. Pippi is thus forced to return to the town of Villa Villekulla to take care of herself, her monkey named Mr. Nilsson, her horse named Horse and a large chest filled with gold coins.

Mrs. Prysselius (voice by Catherine O’Hara), the town busybody, thinks Pippi should be placed in a children’s home. Two career criminals (one of whom has a voice by O’Hara’s fellow “SCTV” alum Dave Thomas) think her treasure should be placed in their hands.

The kids next door think everyone should let her be. Two daffy policemen think they should go fishing. Pippi thinks life would be complete if she could only learn a few newfangled dance steps.

Enough of the “Pippi” spirit is contained in this movie to excuse its gratuitous, eminently forgettable songs and standard-issue animation. Compared with the bombast of most summer movies, it entertains with modest efficiency. You may want to wait for the home video version. One doubts whether your children will.

*

* MPAA rating: G. Times guidelines: perfectly appropriate for children.

‘Pippi Longstocking’

Melissa Altro: Pippi Longstocking

Catherine O’Hara: Mrs. Prysselius

Carole Pope: Teacher

Dave Thomas: Thunder-Karlsson

Gordon Pinsent: Captain Longstocking

A co-production of AB Svensk Filmindustri, Idundafilm, Trickompany and Nelvana, released by Legacy Releasing. Director Clive Smith. Producers Hasmi Giakoumis, Merle-Anne Ridley. Screenplay by Catharina Spackelberg, Susan Snooks, Ken Sobol, Frank Nissen, Clive Smith, based on the books by Astrid Lindgren. Editor Noda Tsamardos. Music Anders Berglund, Great Big Music. Thinkmusic. Art director Clive Powsey. Animation directors Robin Budd, Bill Giggie. Character design Frank Nissen. Running time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.

* In general release throughout Southern California.