Hoodwinked

Skewering the beloved folk story "Little Red Riding Hood," this animated family comedy takes a fresh look at the circumstances surrounding a woodsman attacking a wolf disguised as an old woman. Beginning at the end, Chief Grizzly (voiced by rapper Xzibit) and the mysterious and rational frog Nicky Flippers (David Ogden Stiers), suspecting a connection to the Goody Bandit that has been terrorizing the woods, interview each of the players to discover, in "Rashomon"-like flashbacks, that all is not as it seems. Goody deliverer Red (a wry Anne Hathaway) has aspirations beyond the forest; investigative reporter Wolf (Patrick Warburton) is on the prowl for the next big story; aspiring actor Woodsman (Jim Belushi) is rehearsing for an audition; and Granny (Glenn Close) -- well, it turns out she spends her time not knitting but snowboarding.

Putting to test the style vs. substance debate, "Hoodwinked" employs even more unexpectedly edgy wit than "Shrek," another revisionist fairytale, minus the sophisticated (read: expensive) animation. Appealingly designed (see Red's wide-eyed homage to Japanese anime) and richly voiced (see the Wolf's easygoing intelligence), character movement and background suggest videogame- rather than feature film-quality animation. Voices by Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, Jim Belushi, Patrick Warburton, Anthony Anderson, David Ogden Stiers, Xzibit and Andy Dick. Directed and written by Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards and Tony Leech. Produced by Maurice Kanbar, Sue Bea Montgomery, Preston Stutzman and David K. Lovegren. Animated family comedy. A Weinstein Co. release. Rated PG for some mild action and thematic elements. Running time: 89 min