Bebe's Kids

This cartoon is the best African-American cartoon movie since Fat Albert. It gives a view of how black men deal with single-women with children. A man having to take responsibility of looking after kids that weren't his,and knowing that the kids are the total package with the mother. A excellent movie and a summary of some African-American life in the ghetto.

Because so many children's animated films are actually only thinly disguised morality lessons and/or merchandising gimmicks, it's refreshing to find an acerbic, often tasteless cartoon feature willing to promote a little healthy skepticism instead. The basic premise, suggested by what had been a familiar routine by the late stand-up comedian Robin Harris, might resemble typical Saturday morning TV fodder: the gruff but (almost) lovable Harris (a kindred spirit to W.C. Fields) is conned into chaperoning a trio of pint-sized troublemakers to Fun World, a local amusement park. But underneath the rap soundtrack padding and heartfelt, homeopathic preaching about the virtues of self-esteem is a good deal of subversive, post-Rodney King cynicism. Fun World itself is analogous to White America in the 1990s, complete with secret police, remote surveillance, and a robot Richard Nixon (sounding not unlike Jimmy Stewart). The film was originally planned as a live-action comedy, but it probably works better as animation, where the cartoon exaggeration can be an advantage. Favorite character: little Baby Pee-Wee, with a voice "like a hundred packs of cigarettes" and a constant cloud of flies around his sagging diaper.

African-American comedian Robin Harris had a comedy routine about crazed youngsters only known as "Bebe's Kids". In spite of his death his idea developed into this ho-hum animated feature. Harris (in cartoon form and voiced by another actor) meets a beautiful woman at a mutual friend's funeral. Immediately they start to click, but trouble looms when the woman is supposed to watch a friend's children (the titled characters). Thus the group goes to a theme park and all hell breaks loose as the youngsters seem to be little more than hoods that unwittingly try to control everything everywhere they go. Starts out pretty well, but wears out its welcome as it progresses. The novelty disappears pretty quick and we are left with a silly and tiring cartoon. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

This is the first animated feature aimed at black audiences, and it actually works pretty well. The film is based loosely on a bit by comic Robin Harris (who can be seen in his routine in the beginning credits) where he looks back on a day where he goes on a date with a woman, and tagging along are her son and three brats that are her friend's kids. They go to a amusement park, and then the fun starts (coincidentally, the park is called Funworld). Filled with good humor, bright animation, and the intro (for me anyway) of the mama insults (ie- Your momma's so dumb, she heard it was chili outside, she went and got a bowl). Featuring Faizon Love as the voice of Robin Harris (Harris died before the movie was to be made) and Tone Loc as Pee-Wee. A-

Grew up watching this movie..I wish it gets a remake with real characters one day..the film is funny from beginning to end with a good story line.