BARNEY'S GREAT ADVENTURE: THE MOVIE

• Starring Barney, Trevor Morgan.
• Directed by Steve Gomer.
• Rated G,running time 75 minutes
• With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a 7

By Jack Garner
Staff film critic

(April 3, 1998) -- Reviewing Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie makes me feel like a literary critic reviewing Fun with Dick and Jane.

Any adventure with Barney is the cinematic equivalent of "see Spot run."

But a child's introduction to the world of full-length movies, and to movie theaters, is noteworthy. So I'm happy to report that Barney's Great Adventure, the first feature for the purple PBS-and-video-dinosaur, is commendable as well as cuddly entertainment.

It won't do much for more mature viewers. Any child old enough to go to school is already too worldly for the sappy, but much-loved, Barney. However, for its narrow target audience -- 2- to 4-year-olds -- Barney delivers.

(Parents corralled into taking their youngsters will have to be content with memories of their own first movie or with watching the joy on their 3-year-old's face. Barney isn't for them.)

Designed nearly a decade ago as a non threatening, huggable plush toy brought to life, Barney teaches simple lessons of love and imagination. Pre-schoolers swarm to his public appearances; their parents have bought 35 million videos, 40 best-selling books and millions of plush dolls and toys.

In Barney's Great Adventure, three children vacation on their grandparents' farm and have a make-believe adventure with Barney.

Abby and Marcella believe in and love Barney. The third child, Cody, is more skeptical. In the film, Barney tries to win over the boy by inspiring his imagination.

The film follows the group's colorful adventures as they chase a magic egg through a posh French restaurant, a circus and a hot-air balloon festival.

And just when youngsters in the audience may start to get restless, they're invited to join the film characters as they sing old standbys like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Old MacDonald Had a Farm.

One last bit of good news for parents and their inexperienced little moviegoers: Barney's Great Adventure is only an hour and 15 minutes long.