Brooke Shields – Zachary Mule

(STORY WARRIOR MEDIA CAPITAL/SECOND CHANCE PRODUCTIONS/POLYCAT ANIMOTION/KALEIDOSCOPE HOME ENTERTAINMENT (87 minutes; Rated PG); 2024)

GRACIE AND PEDRO: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (also known as PETS TO THE RESCUE in some regions) is a delightful family adventure that puts a fresh spin on the “lost pets” genre. The film follows two mismatched animals – Gracie, a pampered show dog used to the comforts of luxury, and Pedro, a resourceful, street-smart alley cat – as they find themselves stranded in the chaotic city of Las Vegas after being separated from their owners during a cross-country move. The movie skillfully blends humor, heart, and excitement as the unlikely duo embarks on a thrilling journey to reunite with their humans. The film’s visual portrayal of Las Vegas is vibrant and lively, capturing both the glitz of the strip and the more rugged, less glamorous parts of the city. The bustling urban setting becomes an integral part of the story, offering endless challenges and unexpected encounters for the duo. From dodging dangerous traffic to outwitting quirky characters, the city becomes a character in itself, full of unpredictable twists and turns. What sets GRACIE AND PEDRO… apart is the dynamic relationship between the two leads. Gracie, having been spoiled her entire life, is initially out of her depth in the chaotic and gritty world she’s thrust into. Pedro, on the other hand, has always lived on the streets and quickly takes the role of a reluctant guide, showing her how to survive.

GRACIE AND PEDRO: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (screen capture)

Their differences, while comedic at first, gradually transform into the heart of the film. Gracie’s snobbishness softens as she learns to navigate the world without her usual privileges, and Pedro, despite his tough exterior, begins to reveal a soft spot for his unlikely companion. The film also explores themes of trust, teamwork, and resilience, as Gracie and Pedro face a series of obstacles – from shady characters looking to exploit them to daring escape scenes where their wits are tested. Their journey is peppered with moments of vulnerability, humor, and genuine connection, making their evolving friendship the emotional core of the story. While GRACIE AND PEDRO… follows some familiar beats common in family adventure films – like the classic journey home and the eventual triumph of friendship – the execution is heartfelt, and the character development keeps it engaging. The voice acting adds depth to the characters, with Gracie’s prim and proper tone (courtesy of Claire Alan) clashing amusingly with Pedro’s scrappy, streetwise attitude (provided by Cory Doran). Their banter and growing mutual respect make for many endearing and laugh-out-loud moments. Other voices are provided by a stellar cast of Hollywood’s elite class: Brooke Shields, Danny Trejo, Al Franken, Bill Nighy, Alicia Silverstone, and Susan Sarandon among them.

Although the plot is somewhat predictable, especially for seasoned viewers of this genre, the film’s vibrant setting, energetic pace, and charming leads make it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Families and animal lovers alike will appreciate the fun-filled adventure and emotional resonance that the characters of Gracie and Pedro brings to the screen. In the end, GRACIE AND PEDRO: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE is more than just a lighthearted animated romp through Las Vegas; it’s a celebration of the bonds that form when two unlikely individuals come together and face the world. It’s a feel-good, entertaining movie that emphasizes the power of friendship, adaptability, and the courage to find your way home. Oh, and for anyone wondering about a family movie night with this one… have no fear, my young’ns, aged 9, 5 and 3 thoroughly enjoyed it!

(DVD and Digital; ARC ENTERTAINMENT/KICKSTART PRODUCTIONS (47 minutes, Rated PG); 2014)

I recently reviewed a “kiddie” movie called AVA AND LALA, a really bad example of what passes for “family-friendly” viewing these days (it actually received positive reviews from several Christian sites, even though the Ava character has virtually no redeeming values and exemplifies many non-Christian traits, such as disrespect to others, covetousness and hubris). Still cringing from that experience, I approached UNDER WRAPS with a sense of trepidation. Just a few minutes into the flick, I found myself mumbling, “Now, this is more like it!” UNDER WRAPS is, thankfully, standard-issue American style animation and storytelling (though most of the production team and animators are British or Indian), with plenty of adventure, action, comedy, thrills, chills and a message that everyone can relate to.

The story centers around twelve-year-old Danny (voiced by Nick Wolfhard) and his wi-fi starved older sister, Eleanor (Kazumi Evans), whose archeologist parents (Brian Drummond and Brooke Shields) have dragged them halfway around the world on an Egyptian expedition. Danny is excited to help his parents; they, unfortunately for him, think he’s too young and… uh… too “hands on” to take into the tomb. In his quest for adventure, he tends to act before he thinks things all the way through, leading to plenty of broken relics, groundings and, of course, releasing a curse that turns his parents into mummies. Unlike Ava from the previously reviewed AVA AND LALA, the kids learn their lessons early on as, through the course of the flick, they learn the importance of family, working together to reverse the curse before the sun sets and their parents become permanently mummified.

The curse is accidentally activated when Danny drops and breaks a relic he took from the tomb, setting into motion a fun, fast-paced adventure through the Howard’s hometown. As he and Eleanor take charge (and try to hide their rapidly deteriorating parents), they are stopped by a pair of marginally inept police officers (Brenda Crichlow, Colin Murdock). The officers continue to show up at the worst times possible, leading to some of the funniest moments of the movie. One of the funniest moments occurs when the kids go shopping for the ingredients needed to stop the curse. The cops, of course, take their coffee break in the same grocery. By this point, the parents have become the children, not listening to instructions to remain in the vehicle and out of site. They do neither and are soon wreaking havoc in the store. Drake Bell voices an excitable kid in a squid costume who, after being set upon by Mister Howard, gets no sympathy from anyone because, “That’s a mummy… mummies don’t eat brains. Zombies eat brains.” The mummified Howards, naturally, win the award for best costume.

Along the way, the siblings are set upon by a monstrous mummy (who looks a lot like Iron Maiden’s mascot and cover boy, Eddie), who is looking to retrieve the broken artifact. Eleanor and Danny finally decide that they may be in over their heads as sundown approaches and take their parents’ assistant, Peter (Matthew Lillard), into their confidence. This leads to a final confrontation as the four Howards, Peter, the two cops and the Pharaoh mummy converge for a final showdown. It should be fun for the younger kids to follow the clues throughout to figure out how the story ends.

The movie is rated PG. It does feature some rude humor and the Pharaoh mummy can be a pretty scary thing for really young kids; the action sequences are fairly mild and funny enough to be enjoyed by everybody in the family. UNDER WRAPS would be a good Halloween “scare” for kids above, say, the age of eight, particularly tweeners. The messages of responsibility and working together as a family will not be lost on that age group.

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