Racing Stripes
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: January 14, 2005 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
43
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews
Positive:
6
Mixed:
18
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
70
VarietyJoe Leydon
Frisky and funny enough to please pre-teens, but still witty enough to amuse even those parents who don't recognize Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg and other notables among the unseen vocal talents. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneAllison Benedikt
Endearing but predictable. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Simultaneously overplotted and simplistic, the new barnyard/racecourse comedy from Warner Brothers is predictable every step of the way, and it contains at least three too many poop jokes. Read full review
63
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
I groaned at cliches and grinned at jokes in roughly equal measure. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
The special effects here are surprisingly smooth, and everyone seems to be having fun. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
You may end up being pleasantly surprised, especially if you have a ten-year old girl in tow. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
No "Babe" but should delight youngsters, although parents likely will find it is sentimental in the extreme, with a plot that telegraphs every development. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyScott Brown
So what disturbed me? It was the Shetland pony, which sports both Dustin Hoffman's pipes and his "I Heart Huckabees" toupee, and will haunt my nightmares forever. Read full review
50
Dallas ObserverJean Oppenheimer
The digital computer work is smooth and convincing; the animals look as if they are talking. But their voices are either devoid of personality or grating and annoying. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyElla Taylor
Sweet, innocuous and about as fresh as yesterday's lettuce. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Like most movies aimed at the younger set, Racing Stripes has easily absorbable lessons to teach: Be yourself, never stop trying if your goal is worthwhile, and so forth. Read full review
50
The New York TimesDana Stevens
Racing Stripes is unlikely to ascend to the pantheon of perennially watchable children's films, but like its hero, what it lacks in skill, it makes up for in heart. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
Dumb but harmless live-action comedy for kids. Read full review
50
New York PostRussell Scott Smith
A predictable but pleasant kids movie that veers between old-fashioned girl-and-her-horse sentiment and "Ren & Stimpy"-style poo jokes. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
But when you think of the "Babe" pictures, and indeed even an animated cartoon like "Home on the Range," you realize Stripes is on autopilot with all of the usual elements: a heroine missing one parent, an animal missing both, an underdog (or underzebra), cute animals, the big race. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleCarla Meyer
Muniz, however, is hampered by Stripes' constant moping, which brings out the "Malcolm in the Middle'' star's whinier tendencies. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
The movie, which is roughly as predictable as the attraction of flies to dung, is a hackneyed mix of sentimentality and anarchic comedy. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
At best, Racing Stripes should play nicely to youngsters with the cutoff for enjoyment extending no further than midteens. Read full review
42
Seattle Post-IntelligencerPaula Nechak
Racing Stripes is oddly torn in tone: is it an old-fashioned family drama, a coming-of-age story or a crass comedy? Live action or animation? Unlike "Babe," it fails to integrate its conflicting personalities. Read full review
40
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
A film divided against itself. Granted, neither part is particularly distinguished or appealing but the old-timey sports-movie elements at least possess a quaint charm. Unfortunately, that's wholly negated by the film's stumbling attempts at comic relief. Read full review
40
Village VoiceChris Tamarri
The film shares a problem with its hero: identity crisis. Read full review
40
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Although this film about a zebra who aspires to win horse races has a marvelous premise, it slows to a mediocre canter right out of the starting gate. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineEthan Alter
Bland family comedy. Read full review
40
EmpireAnna Smith
It’s been done before, and better. With pigs. Read full review
38
USA TodayMike Clark
Almost everyone in this has done better, and those who haven't, like young Ms. Panettiere, have plenty of time to do so. Read full review
0
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
Simply put, no matter what this zebra thinks of himself, Stripes is no thoroughbred. Read full review
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