Ralph S. Mouse

Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video, Ralph S. Mouse is yet another magical notch in the belt of animator John Matthews. Based on the Beverly Cleary novel, this third entry starring Ralph (the others are Runaway Ralph and The Mouse and the Motorcycle), finds the intrepid rodent in hot water with Mr. Minch, the proprietor of the Mountain View Inn. Too much cycling in front of the guests has almost cost Matt (Ray Walston), the elderly bellman and Ralph's friend, his job. So young Ryan (Robert Oliveri) backpacks Ralph to school until Minch cools his jets. At school, Ryan, the new kid, gets into a fight with the class bully, and Miss Kuchenbacker (Karen Black) assigns them the job of working together on a maze for Ralph (to show whether mice are smart or not). Before long, the media gets involved, and reports a mouse epidemic which, in turn, galvanizes the school janitor into Rambo, and...that's as much as I'm telling. Suffice it to say that children of all ages will find Ralph's new adventure an eye-popping treat. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from: Churchill Films, 12210 Nebraska Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025.)