Chicken Little

In this charming adaptation of the classic children's tale, based on the handsomely illustrated 1985 retelling by Stephen Kellogg, Chicken Little does what Orson Welles did in his legendary radio broadcast of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds: create mass hysteria. Beaned by an acorn, the nervous chicken draws a most un-Socratic conclusion when she assumes that the sky itself is falling. She shares her findings in perfectly hysterical pitch with poultry acquaintances Goosey Poosey, Ducky Lucky, Turkey Lurkey and Henny Penny, who, in turn, take up the apocalyptic cry. Meanwhile, Foxy Loxy prepares a trap for this band of birdbrains, which almost succeeds (in the original, no doubt widely repeated to noisome children, Foxy Loxy had an all you can eat poultry buffet; the story here has been given a more kid-friendly ending). Helen Hunt (Mad About You, As Good as it Gets) and Hank Azaria (The Simpsons, The Birdcage) provide the voice talents, while Ernest V. Troost adds another winning musical score. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)