The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina

An imaginative take on Hans Christian Andersen's beloved characters, the initial set-up of The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina (featuring the voice talents of Elijah Wood and Jennifer Love Hewitt) finds the youngsters stolen from a kingdom of wee people--lucky Tom gets away and is rescued by a kind man, but poor Thumbelina is raised as part of a circus show. Years later, Thumbelina, miserable, lonely and feeling like a "reject," makes a daring escape, just as Tom's caretaker sends him off into the world to look for others like him. Not surprisingly, the thumb ones discover each other and happily begin a joint quest for similar creatures, interrupted initially by the standard tiffs and later when a pair of moles whisk Thumbelina away to the Mole King, who desperately wants her for his bride. Also featuring the voices of Robert Guillaume, Peter Gallagher, Jon Stewart, Rachel Griffiths and Bebe Neuwirth, this direct-to-video effort includes three songs (and three reprises). Although the animation is mediocre, kids will still enjoy this humorous, spirited, animated adventure. Recommended. (J. Williams)