RACING STRIPES/KANGAROO JACK

RACING STRIPES: A cute zebra foal gets separated from his circus and is adopted by a horse trainer (Bruce Greenwood) in this live action talking-animal tale. Stripes (voiced by Frankie Muniz) is adopted by the trainer`s tomboy daughter (Hayden Panettiere)--an aspiring jockey--who subsequently wants to race him in the big leagues. Setbacks include her dad`s over-protectiveness (he lost her mom in a horse-racing accident), and the fact that Stripes is a zebra and not a normal horse. Though all the other thoroughbreds turn up their noses at this odd-looking interloper, a wizened old pony (Dustin Hoffman) steps in as trainer, and it`s time to start prepping for the big race. Other animal characters include a mob hit-pelican (voice of Joe Pantoliano), a nurturing goat (voice of Whoopi Goldberg), a rooster (voice of Jeff Foxworthy), and a hound (Snoop Dogg). Mandy Moore does the voice of Stripes` comely mare love interest. Steve Harvey and David Spade are a pair of trash-talking horseflies. Adults will cherish some sly references to older movies, while the kids should get a lot out of the mix of real animals, nonstop gags, and an uplifting message about the importance of not judging a horse by its stripes. Though set in Kentucky, the film was actually filmed in South Africa, with real zebras. M. Emmet Walsh is a welcome addition as a loveable old codger and Wendie Malick is the evil race track owner.KANGAROO JACK: A lifelong friendship takes an unexpected turn when Charlie (Jerry O`Connell) and Louis (Anthony Anderson) attempt to off-load a truck full of stolen televisions into a New York City warehouse. On arrival they realize the warehouse belongs to Charlie`s stepfather, the notorious crime boss Sal Maggio (Christopher Walken). To make matters worse, they`ve inadvertently led the police there, and have to make a quick escape. Sal decides to punish them with a complicated assignment--he sends them to the Australian outback, where they must deliver $50, 000 to Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.