Milo's Hat Trick

Poor Milo the magician. When Mr. Popovich, the manager of the Rialto Theater, threatens to pull the plug on Milo the Magnificent's matinee magic show because it lacks a hat trick, Milo goes woods-fishing for an assistant, hoping to attract a bunny with bait. When, much to his (and our) surprise he snares a bear instead, the latter offers to help Milo out and promptly dives into his hat (explaining to Milo that it's just a matter of adjustment). Unfortunately, enroute to the theater, Milo accidentally swaps hats with a fellow traveler, and turns up for the show bear-less (and therefore minus what would surely be a monumentally impressive hat trick). I won't reveal the paths by which Milo and the bear are reunited or what happens after; suffice it to say that the iconographic animated Milo's Hat Trick, based on the 2001 picture book by Jon Agee (who also appears briefly before the film to talk about his ideas for writing the book), and winsomely narrated by Earl Hindman, is a winning bit of magic. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)