heelsgirl I thought this movie was very cute, everyone sounds like it was a death sentence trying to sit through it. True the music was corny, the storyline weak and the actors needed to go back to acting school but it was a nice 2 hour movie. A good way to take your mind off your troubles. If only life were like this fantasy movie and problems could be solved as easy as a smile and a hug, this is wholesome, innocent goodness you don't see in movies anymore. The cliché of good vs. evil, the over-dramatic heroine, the friendship of strangers whom you met for the first time but feel like you have known them for a lifetime.I got Babes in Toyland when it came out on VHS and I was very disappointed with the release, the movie was shortened to a mere 94 minutes and key plot developments and musical numbers were lost, hopefully the filmmakers will release it on DVD in a fully restored uncut edition complete with a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie and exclusive cast interviews.Every actor in the movie industry needs a starting point, a movie that even they can look at and say, "Oh my God I was in that!" Also, it was a made-for-TV movie so what can you expect "Gone With The Wind?" I don't think so. I guess you can say that NBC did the best they could, after all for a network that in the future would bring us "Friends" and "Deal or No Deal" it was a small and humble beginning.

Amy Adler Lisa (Drew Barrymore) lives in Cincinnati with her mother, older sister and younger brother. As Lisa's mother is a single parent, Lisa is often in charge of getting dinner started and taking care of her little sibling. One night, during a snowstorm, the lights go out at Lisa's house...and mother is not home yet. Not only that, Lisa gets a bump on the head and passes out. When she wakes up, she finds she is in Toyland, where all toys are made. It is a generally cheerful place but a mean resident, Barnaby (Richard Mulligan) has cast a dark shadow on the town. He insists that a beautiful young girl named Mary become his wife and the wedding is planned. However, Mary is in love with Jack Be Nimble (Keanu Reeves) and is desolate that Barnaby holds great power over the village. Lisa, seeing the situation, wants to help. Perhaps a trip to the town's toymaster (Pat Morita) will provide a solution. Is there a happy ending for all of the town's inhabitants but, especially, Jack and Mary? This is a lovely-to-look-at adaption of a classic musical. The art direction is superb, as Toyland is brimming with color and excitement. In early roles, Keanu Reeves and Drew Barrymore add greatly to the film's enjoyment. Richard Mulligan has a dark role to play and does it adequately, although he never really gets to show his abundant talent for comedy. Pat Morita is very nice as the town's toy master. One possible drawback for young children is the presence of Barnaby's monster friends, as they really are quite scary in appearance. Nevertheless, with a sweet story and a fine musical score, this movie will remain a holiday classic for the years ahead.

lonedragon1422 I was around six when I first saw this movie with my best friend and we both almost had heart attacks, especially toward the end. It's definitely not suitable for really young children, and Eileen Brennan made a huge mistake tying her name to it. She's a fabulous actress otherwise.The whole thing is nonsensical, which is the point, except that as a six year old child, I knew the whole thing was stupid. I can't recall ever having seen a children's movie this bad.To sum up, what I distinctly remember from the movie is that it gave me a fear of dark places for the longest time, and a hatred for toys.

M Townes Blah blah Drew Barrymore blah blah Keanu Reeves... we can talk all day about their mediocre performances, but it is a shame that they obscure the hidden gem in this film. I'm thinking specifically of the Postmouse, brilliantly played by some young, unnamed actor. Although his screen time is all too short and his character mostly background, this anonymous thespian nevertheless succeeds in conveying the earnest pathos of a mouse hard at work in land of toys. Had the production not been otherwise deficient, this budding Brando might have been given a chance to shine... but alas, he will remain yet another Unknown Soldier in the war between art and celebrity.