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Bartok The Magnificent

1999, Movie, G, 70 mins

Bartok The Magnificent: Review

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This spiffy sequel to the animated ANASTASIA employs songs and gags to show the way greatness is thrust upon a cowardly bat. Russian purists will no doubt quibble that this cartoon's spirit is closer to Disneygrad than Petrograd, but undemanding children will find much to enjoy. Street performers Bartok Bat (Voice of Hank Azaria) and Zosi Bear (Kelsey Grammar) entertain the peasants and amuse his Majesty, young Prince Ivan Romanoff (Phillip Van Dyke). But the scheming regent, Ludmilla (Catherine O'Hara), would prefer Ivan not forge new friendships. Her plan to seize power involves imprisoning the Prince in a cell inside the palace, then circulates a rumor that notorious witch Baba Yaga (Andrea Martin) has kidnapped him. Since Prince Ivan is very popular with his people, Ludmilla makes a show of delegating scaredy-cat Bartok to rescue the boy. With the curious Bartok away on a fool's errand, she reasons, there's little chance that other suspicious souls will start prying into Ivan's disappearance. Bartok seeks out Baba Yaga, who sets him a series of tasks: If he performs them successfully, she promises her cooperation. First, he retrieves the witch's loquacious pet, Piloff (Jennifer Tilly), from an ice quarry. Next, he fetches a regal helmet from Oble (French Stewart), who balks at relinquishing this regal helmet. After Bartok performs the final task, capturing a magical feather, Baba Yaga confesses that she doesn't have Prince Ivan. Armed with one of Baba Yaga's magic potions, Bartok returns to the Romanoff Castle with Zozi. Ludmilla captures them and steals the witch's elixir, which "makes you 10 times on the outside what you are on the inside." Once Ludmilla quaffs the elixir and becomes 10 times more Ludmilla-like, how can Bartok possibly free Prince Ivan from the dungeon? Much sunnier than its dour predecessor, this trim follow-up cushions life-affirming lessons in a series of exciting adventures aimed at small fry. Energized by two smashing production numbers sung by SCTV veterans Catherine O'Hara and Andrea Martin, this tongue-in-cheek escapade plays fast and loose with Russian folklore and history, but does so in a highly entertaining way. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
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