BABE: PIG IN THE CITY

• Starring Magda Szubanski and James Cromwell
• Directed by George Miller
• Rated G; running time 95 minutes
• With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a 7

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(Nov. 25, 1998) -- The most famous movie pig since Porky returns to the big screen Wednesday in Babe: Pig in the City. Although the sequel can't recapture the wondrous aura of the original Babe, it still brings home the bacon.

Of course, no follow-up can hope to capture the magic of the family film that went on to capture seven Oscar nominations in 1995, including a best picture nod.

When a film is as special and beloved as Babe, the best filmgoers can expect is an entertaining sequel that doesn't cheapen the memory of the original. With that realistic goal in mind, Babe: Pig in the City is a winner.

The lead character -- the young and oh-so-sweet White Yorkshire pig -- once again proves that "a kind and steady heart can heal a sorry world."

His world is once again shown to be a timeless land of fable, peppered with off-kilter echoes of reality.

Babe was adapted from a popular Dick King-Smith children's book, but Pig in the City was written directly for the screen. And while the first film was a triumph of whimsy, the sequel offers more action and pizazz.

Pig in the City opens with Babe's triumphant return home with Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell) after his shocking victory in the National Sheep-Dog Trials. But before calm can return to the farm, Hoggett is injured by a fall into a well.

And then bankers show up, threatening foreclosure.

Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski) decides she must exploit Babe's newfound fame by accepting a lucrative offer for him to demonstrate his shepherding skills at a big state fair. It's the only way to save the farm.

En route to the fair, though, Mrs. Hoggett and the pig are separated. Babe is soon alone in a big city.

In one of the film's most imaginative touches, the city includes many of the world's great urban landmarks -- the World Trade Center, the Golden Gate Bridge, Toronto's CN Tower, the Hollywood sign, the Sydney Opera House, etc. That's what I mean when I refer to the film's blend of fantasy and reality.

Once in the city, Babe courageously saves a drowning animal -- and finds himself thrust into a leadership role among the city's ragtag gang of stray dogs and cats, a group of orphaned performing apes and various other creatures.

Meanwhile, the farm mice have followed along -- and again serve as a Greek chorus -- and Ferdinand the Duck returns to provide comic relief.

But when Babe's animal friends are impounded, the resourceful little pig must once again become a hero.

Most of the original cast and crew reunite for Pig in the City, with original producer and co-writer George Miller taking over the director's chair. (He previously created Australia's Mad Max movies.)

The only missing performer is Christine Cavanaugh, the original voice of Babe, who reportedly lost her gig in the wake of a contract dispute for the sequel. Babe is now voiced by E.G. Daily, and only the most astute ears could detect much difference.

If you believe in the old dictum that "more is better," you'll love the huge parade of animals in the second Babe. The screen is crowded with dozens of assorted creatures. The wrangling of stunt animals must have been astonishing. (It must have been a major trick to avoid stepping in something on the set.)

Again, real animals are cleverly and seamlessly blended with animatronic puppets and computer effects.

Thankfully, the melodious voice of Roscoe Lee Browne again provides the film's flavorful narration.

All told, Babe: Pig in the City gets the job done, at least enough to warrant Farmer Hoggett's famous, low-key approval:

"That'll do, Pig, that'll do."