Mind Me Good Now!

Based on Lynette Comissiong's 1997 picture book (illustrated by Marie Lafrance), the animated Mind Me Good Now! (which bears little visual resemblance to the acrylic plates in the book) offers a Caribbean-flavored take on the Grimms' classic fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, in which siblings Tina and Dalby ignore their mother's warning about crossing a bridge and find themselves in the clutches of a “cocoya” (or witch-like spirit) named Mama Zee, whose favorite refrain is “little boys, they taste so nice/boil them up with sugar and spice.” Fortunately—for imminent menu item Dalby—Tina is one smart cookie and she recalls that a cocoya will a) do anything for little girls, and b) evaporate Dracula-style if exposed to sunlight. Therefore, she thinks of ways to trick Mama Zee all night long until Tina makes one last request (river water for bathing) that sends Mama Zee to her crispy critter doom. Directed by Chris Cormier and Derek Cummings, and featuring a fine voice cast and an exotic score by Casimirro Nhussi, Mind Me Good Now! is not in the same league—animation-wise—as the National Film Board of Canada's usual fare, but this is still a fun watch and serves as a fine example of how popular fairy tales travel across cultures. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)