The Land Before Time (1988)

Directed by Don Bluth. Starring (voices) Gabriel Damon, Candace Huston, Judith Barsi, Pat Hingle, Will Ryan, Helen Shaver. [G]

Animated fantasy set in prehistoric times tells the tale of a young dinosaur called Littlefoot who gets separated from his dwindling herd and sets off on a journey to a lush valley with a handful of plucky youthful pals (a triceratops, a stegosaurus, etc.). Bluth carries on the tradition of early Disney animated features with the art design and familiar tropes; also borrows from the plot structure of his previous film, An American Tail. Rife with ineffectual transitions among hardship and tragedy, juvenile cuteness, and intense terror, an ill-fitting amalgam further represented by its merchandise-friendly creature animation (dinosaurs have huge eyelashes?) set against often harsh and inhospitable landscapes. Early segments work best, and the animation is often expressive and appreciably unpolished, but this is strictly kids’ stuff (or certain adults nostalgic for having seen the movie when they were kids). Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy are all listed as executive producers. Followed by a comically absurd number of direct-to-video sequels.

51/100