FAMILY
When attending kids' movies lately, the stated goal of my 5-year-old buddy is to learn new impolite expressions. Once he hears 'em, there's no turning back. Thanks to this moderately entertaining tale about a zebra convinced that he's a racehorse, little you-know-who is now regularly threatening to "kick your butt." (It could be worse: Fat Albert had him hollering, "You're a fat loser.")
Despite its predictable plot, Racing Stripes will amuse children and adults a bit with its wisecracks, discounting the above example, uttered by the hot-to-trot zebra (voiced by Frankie Muniz) and his barnyard companions (voiced by Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, David Spade and Steve Harvey). This one isn't Babe by any stretch, but it at least finishes the race. (PG)
