The Land Before Time: Journey to Big Water

This ninth installment of Universal's The Land Before Time franchise brings back all the main character dinos (Littlefoot, Cera, Petrie, Ducky and Spike) for a conventional kiddie adventure that has the denizens of The Great Valley worrying about the effects that an abundance of “sky water” has on their nesting and resting spots. While most of the gang must work on repairs, Littlefoot, bored with no playmates, bonds with a strange new “swimmer” dolphin-like friend named Mo he's found in the just-formed “new water.” Separated from his family, Mo joins Littlefoot and his buddies on a hazardous trek (against the warnings of the adult herd) to get back to his mysterious “big water” home. Encountering "earthshakes,” an insect swarm, and a scary water creature, while also spinning a few tolerable tunes, the fellowship eventually turns up at Mo's place, where his elders provide them with the correct route home. Dealing with topics such as imaginary friends, handling jealousy, and acceptance of diversity, this is much less poignant than the original, but surprisingly engaging for a ninth trip to the well. Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams)