Amazon.com

This weak, 1991 remake of the French comedy La Chèvre stars Danny Glover as a detective who is sent to Mexico to find a businessman's daughter (Sheila Kelley) and who gets stuck with a hapless assistant (Martin Short). The film wears out its welcome very quickly, despite some passable physical comedy from Short. Both actors have made much better movies; don't be surprised if you can't make it through to the end of this one. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This film must come to DVD!!!!!!!!!!!
This has been my family's favorite comedy for years. Everything about it is simply top notch fun. Martin Short at his BEST!!! If anyone knows of an online petition to get this to DVD, let me know and I'm there!! thesingingvoice@yahoo.com

100% pure fun.
Very good remake of the French film "La Chevre" ("Knock on the Wood"). First and last good film by director Nadia Tass.
Valerie (Sheila Kelley) is unluckiest women on the face of the Earth. She disappears in Mexico without the trace and nobody have any clue what happen. Her frustrated rich father taking his last chance with very odd team: "Private Eye" Ray (Danny Glover) and Eugene, unluckiest man on the face of the Earth ( Martin Short). The plan is simple: go to Mexico and let Eugene just be himself. Did it work? Sure it did, but you have to se how.
This comedy is 100% pure fun. The only one reason why I gave it 4 stars is the French film, which I've seen many times. No one can beat a French team of Gérard Depardieu and Pier Rishard.
"Vlad"

Hilarious
As far as comedy films go, this is my all-time favorite. While I think I have a pretty good sense of humor, there aren't many films that will make me laugh out loud. This one does. In fact, there are belly-laughs galore from start to finish. I have recommended this film to many of my friends and everyone that has seen it has loved it. Highly recommended.

Made me laugh out loud not just giggle!!!
The movie was very light hearted and not serious at all. Myself and my kids were able to enjoy it together. In this day and age that in itself is a real treat.

Just plain fun!
If you like slapstick, this is the movie for you. I've searched local video houses for this one for my kids with no LUCK! My boys, 6 & 11, think it's hilarious. For good, clean fun, try this. Martin Short is a hoot! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of "Pepsi Girl" Hallie Kate Eisenberg will find her scarcely recognizable as the silent, sullen young Helen Keller. Blind, deaf, and mute, Helen is unable to communicate with her family except through temper tantrums. She is allowed to eat with her hands, tear buttons off the clothes of others, and even knock over the baby's cradle. She is barely pacified with candy and headed toward institutionalization when Annie Sullivan enters her life. Plagued with vision problems of her own and orphaned at a young age, Sullivan has the right mix of steeliness and empathy to turn her young student's behavior around and teach her language. Allison Elliot (The Spitfire Grill) disappears into the role of the teacher whose job is made tougher by Helen's imperious plantation-owner father (David Strathairn) and soft-centered mother when they doubt her authority and challenge her methods. This Disney television remake of the Oscar-winning 1962 original--based on William Gibson's play--lacks some of the emotional impact of its predecessor, especially in the climactic pump scene. Eisenberg often seems a little stiff as the wildcat Helen, but Elliott and the able supporting cast make this 88-minute update worthwhile. Ages 7 and up. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (24)

This is a great remake
Tried to expose my kids to the original movie - they hated it. They can't stand black and white. Got this, and they love it! It's a beautiful and heart warming story. Haley Kate is a beautiful Helen Keller!

Great Job by Disney on this one!
Imagine the troubles one would experience trying to raise a child is unable to speak, hear or see; this movie does a great job bringing the struggles to your television screen. The Pepsi-girl, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, gives a fantastic performance as the famous Helen Keller. She managed to pull off one of the most difficult jobs for any actor or actress - playing a the role of a deaf-mute, not to mention the blind part.

Alison Elliott plays Annie Sullivan, a woman dedicated to teaching Helen more than anyone could have ever dreamed of; the two are amazing, and each actress played off each other's extreme professionalism in making this film work. It could have easily failed without these two in their respective roles.

To date, I have watched this movie four times; I think I enjoyed it the same each time. This is a movie that touches your heart, and if it doesn't, maybe you've misplaced it. 

See ya next review!
www.theruninggirl.com

The Best Evee...r!
This is one of the best movies ever.People say the first one is better,but I don't know.I recommend this version especialy for kids...but also for adults.This is seriously one of the greatest movies ever.I've never seen the first version...but I think this one is still better.You should get this.It's about a girl,Helen,who is deaf,blind,and mute!Annie is hired to teach her good manners,because she eats with her hands,can throw things when she's angry,and can even knock down the babies crib.Annie agrees on teaching her but wants to teach her so much more.She strives to teach her sign language,and Helen turns into a very smart girl.This is a very compasionate story,so I recommend that you get it.

The Remake
After I watched this movie, I still like the original 1962 better. Why? Because it has more emotional impact in it, and it has really funny scenes like the "feeling emotions on faces" the original has. The "battle of wills" is more tame in this (the Disney version) one than the original. I've noticed they left out some really good scenes that was from the original.
This version from Disney is ok. The actress who played Anne Sullivan did good, but I like the original James (Helen's half-brother) better than this one. The little girl who played Helen in this version is not as good as Patty Duke, but she did well.
If I had a choice, I'd pick the original. But this is good to watch too, if you want to see both versions, even though it is MUCH different than the 1962 movie.

Very Impressive movie
This was a very impressive movie, it touched me, I am a 12 year old girl reviewer, I normally like funny movies, but certain ones really touch me. This was one of them. Hallie Kate Eisenburg did an outstanding job at this character, with the talents that she has and the age that shes at, along with the disabilities that Helen had and that she had to play, she did a terrific job! I do admit, it was not as good as the first one, but do you expect it to be? It's a disney classic! This movie was very well made and I would love to see it again, and again, and again. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Pretty Awful
This movie was awful! Ashley Rose Orr, while a talented tap dancer, and singer (actually a little better than Temple was in terms of the latter), is a terrible actress. She plays the character as the Shirley that we saw on screen in her movies whether she's playing her on screen or off screen persona. So what we get is an overly cutesy, and wholly unrealistic (not to mention uninteresting) portrait. If one wants to see that side of her, one can just watch one of her movies. The only bright light here is Connie Britton's portrayal of Gertrude Temple. I don't think it was terribly realistic, but at least it was well acted. The Poor Little Rich Girl is definitely a better investment.

OK
Ashley Rose Orr was nothing like Shirley Temple. Shirley had sparkle and pizazz. Ashley looked like a child trying to pretend to be Shirley. What kept me interested were the dance numbers. There wasn't very much information about her fame and life. All they really covered was how her contract changed from time to time how Fox changed to 20th Century Fox and that she didnt get Dorothy in Wizard of Oz (which im so glad she didnt b/c it would have just been aother Shirley Movie nothing big) otherwise. Ashley acts nothing like shirley would have acted off screne, looks nothing like her, sounds nothing like her, and why is a 10 year old playing a 5 year old?

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!
This is one of my favorite movies! I watch it over and over again w/o getting sick of it! Although I thought Ashley Orr didnt really have the Shirley charm, she was pretty good! This is such a great movie and I can go a week w/o watching it!

child star a great movie!
this movie was so good. it is a great movie for the whole family. i loved this movie i personally think they should show the movie more often.

ashley is nothing like Shirley!!!!!!!!
I don't want to offend Shirley Temple(shes my favorite actress), but I did not like this movie at all. I have read Child Star, and the movie is nothing like the book! Plus, Ashley Orr did a terrable job as Shirley! Shirley had a differant, yet very cute, voice, which ashley does not have, and by trying to copy Shirley's voice she made it worse! If you want to know more about Shirley, then read Child Star, by Shirley Temple; Shirley Temple American Princess, by Anne Edwards; Or watch one of the real Shirley Temple movies. DON'T buy this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Love Shirley Temple, But I HATE this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

funny and touching
Parts of this movie had me laughing myself off the couch.

It is an understated and unpretentious film, basically a love story or a coming of age story - I guess a mixture of both.

I had to give it 5 stars, it is not a 5 star movie even though Tetchie Agbayani looked totally delicious, but I figured the other reviewer gave it 4 stars, now it averges out at 4 1/2 - just about right.

Well worth seeing. It is part of my library and I bring it out as a special treat for company that I know can appreciate it.

A Good Laugh - Aussie Style
This movie is a typical Aussie sleeper. It starts out slow, with laffs at the expenes of the local police, and then moves out of town and North to ??????? All the characters are excellently cast in their roles and provide continuity in the trek North for gold and adventure. If you enjoyed the first "Crocodile Dundee" you will definitely enjoy this. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Funny Period Australian film
I saw this video recently and loved it! It's an amusing story (supposedly true) of a young man just released from a jail term in Australia, and his desire to live a decent and normal life with a girl from his school days. It has some scenes reminiscent (for Americans) of the hippie days in the late '60's here, and much good humor. It manages to be funny without being slapstick or rude. Very Aussie. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This film must come to DVD!!!!!!!!!!!
This has been my family's favorite comedy for years. Everything about it is simply top notch fun. Martin Short at his BEST!!! If anyone knows of an online petition to get this to DVD, let me know and I'm there!! thesingingvoice@yahoo.com

100% pure fun.
Very good remake of the French film "La Chevre" ("Knock on the Wood"). First and last good film by director Nadia Tass.
Valerie (Sheila Kelley) is unluckiest women on the face of the Earth. She disappears in Mexico without the trace and nobody have any clue what happen. Her frustrated rich father taking his last chance with very odd team: "Private Eye" Ray (Danny Glover) and Eugene, unluckiest man on the face of the Earth ( Martin Short). The plan is simple: go to Mexico and let Eugene just be himself. Did it work? Sure it did, but you have to se how.
This comedy is 100% pure fun. The only one reason why I gave it 4 stars is the French film, which I've seen many times. No one can beat a French team of Gérard Depardieu and Pier Rishard.
"Vlad"

Hilarious
As far as comedy films go, this is my all-time favorite. While I think I have a pretty good sense of humor, there aren't many films that will make me laugh out loud. This one does. In fact, there are belly-laughs galore from start to finish. I have recommended this film to many of my friends and everyone that has seen it has loved it. Highly recommended.

Made me laugh out loud not just giggle!!!
The movie was very light hearted and not serious at all. Myself and my kids were able to enjoy it together. In this day and age that in itself is a real treat.

Just plain fun!
If you like slapstick, this is the movie for you. I've searched local video houses for this one for my kids with no LUCK! My boys, 6 & 11, think it's hilarious. For good, clean fun, try this. Martin Short is a hoot! ... Read more