Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Starring:Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Robert Bathurst, Hugo Blick, John Boswall, Keith-Lee Castle, John Cleese, Steve Coogan, Sarah Crowden, Stephen Fry, Don Henderson (II), Bernard Hill, Eric Idle, Richard James, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Nigel Planer, Julia Sawalha, Antony Sher, Nicol Williamson, Victoria Wood
Director: Terry Jones
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

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Inventive, tuneful retelling of The Wind in the Willows by filmmaker Terry Jones (Erik the Viking), and costarring many of his Monty Python pals. The film relies on creative dramatics and subtle costumes to show the human actors playing the various animal characters. We follow Mr. Mole (Steve Coogan), whose home is destroyed by a feisty band of weasels who want to make over the peaceful "wild wood" for economic means. Rat (Eric Idle) and the noble Badger (Nicol Williamson) are enlisted to help, but the rich and foolish Mr. Toad (Jones) and his enthusiasm for automobiles--and his ability to wreck them--soon lay waste to his friends' noble efforts. Python members Michael Palin and John Cleese have small roles as, respectively, the all-knowing Sun and Mr. Toad's lawyer. Three-time Oscar winner James Acheson (The Last Emperor) provides the delightful costumes and production design. The film is not as fun as ex-Python member Terry Gilliam's creative films (Time Bandits) but this is one of those films that deserves an audience. It languished for two years, with only very limited release in U.S. movie theaters. As with Time Bandits, the PG rating is for shenanigans and comic gunplay. --Doug Thomas

Description

A classic Disney tale comes to life in this outrageous comedy adventure filled with high-spirited antics and madcap fun! Bring the whole family along on MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE, a live-action woodland fantasy adapted from the pages of the classic children's novel THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. Mr. Toad (Terry Jones) is literally driving his friends crazy with his powerful passion for motorcars -- selling off the town's land to replace each vehicle he crashes! It's up to Mole (Steve Coogan), Rat (Eric Idle), and Badger (Nicol Williamson) to put an end to the lunacy and save "Toad Hall" from falling into the hands of the conniving Weasels, who plan to turn it into a dog food factory! Includes guest star Bernard Hill (LORD OF THE RINGS) and John Cleese and Michael Palin (MONTY PYTHON).

Customer Reviews:

Fun and light-hearted.......2006-03-17

I enjoyed this movie and felt good after watching it. Good for adults and children!

A Classic Which Shouldn't Be Forgotten.......2004-09-16

This is a so-called kid's movie that's way too good for kids. It's based on the book The Wind in the Willows. Mr. Toad (Terry Jones) of Toad Hall loves fast cars, crazy inventions, and all the latest fads. He crashes his cars regularly and is spending more money that he has on his enthusiasms. And it seems the Chief Weasel (Antony Sher) and his cronies have been buying up the land Mr. Toad has had to sell. They're going to tear down Toad Hall and build a huge dog food factory in its place. The Chief Weasel plans that the first ingredients to be processed will be Toad and his friends, the meek but brave Mole (Steve Coogan), the picnic-loving, loyal Rat (Eric Idle), and the grumpy, advice-giving Badger (Nicol Williamson). The movie details with great humor their adventures to defeat the Chief Weasel and save Toad Hall.

What makes this movie so special is the loving care Jones took establishing the look of the place and the fullness of the characters. If you pay attention, you'll see some gentle takes on greed, the legal system (John Cleese is a defence attorney who makes an impassioned case in court that his client should receive the maximum sentence), 1984, the protection of our environment, taking responsibility for our actions, and friendship. And the movie is not ponderous or preachy at all. It's great fun.

Disney, which had U.S. rights to the film, did nothing with it. When they finally put it in theaters, after insisting the name be changed from The Wind in the Willows to the name of one of their park rides, they spent almost no marketing money on promotion. Not suprisingly, the movie tanked faster than Mr. Toad's tongue catching a fly.

I've watched it twice now, and skimmed through it again this morning. It should be considered a classic. Little kids would probably like the characters, the color and the action, but my target audience would start with slightly alienated and smart teenagers. They'll get it. And then move on to those adults who like adult things.

The DVD transfer is excellent.

Absolutely fantastic!.......2004-07-23

My grandson and I first watched this 5 yrs. ago then happened upon its being shown on BBC while in London this year and remembered how much we had enjoyed it. I have just ordered it as Christmas presents for my other grandchildren. The 2nd viewing was just as funny! We were glued to the TV before we went out to sightsee! It's wonderful!

Mr. Toad's Great DVD.......2004-05-31

Starts a little slow but is strong throughout, very entertaining - aimed at kids, but parents won't be bored!

My favourite film in the world.......2003-12-23

I love this film because it is funny it has alot of the monty python stars in it and also that the actors are amazing. The first time that I ever saw this film was when I borrowed it off a friend and ever since that I had fallen in love wwith it.