Bebe's Kids

As a child I loved this movie and couldn't stop watching. My friends and I made this movie part of our weekend routine. So I decided to watch it recently to see if it was as funny as I thought it was. It turned out it was even better. Now that I am older I can enjoy the more mature jokes rather than just the hilarious antics the kids get themselves into. I am curious though about all the African-American stereotypes in this film others have commented on. It certainly can't be the kids as all races have their "bad apples". I actually think it defies some myths about African-Americans. Such as the stereotype that black men don't care about kids. Here we see a black man not only taking care of children, but other people's children. This movie even depicts the real problem of racial profiling (The security officers paying close attention on one of the Bebe children just because of how he dresses. Even though he is only a child.) All in all I believe this movie and the experience along with it some of my best childhood memories.

Robin Harris is captivated by the beautiful Jamilka, and her son seems pleasant enough. But when he he invites them to the local amusement park, they bring along the three hellions of Jamilka's absent friend Bebe.

It's based on one of Harris' monologues -- he's shown giving it at the beginning -- and plans were made to do a live-action version. Then Harris died, and what was to be done? Cancel? Recast? Neither. Instead, they did the body of the story as a cartoon, with Faizon Love doing a good imitation of Harris, and Vanessa Bell Calloway voicing Jamilka.

I was not looking forward to this movie, because it violates one of my prime rules about animation: never do animated what you can do live. I needn't have worried; under the direction of Bruce Smith, characters and action are exaggerated cartoonishly, offering some real comedy and ending on a serious note that is well set up. The artwork is also good; it's not elaborately designed, but it is fully animated. There may have been no cartoon wabbits, but this is a fine feature-length cartoon.

Bebe's kids is truly an imaginatively funny film. It made me laugh while having surprisingly interesting and funny characters. The movie didn't try to win our attention, it just won it on its own. Very fun film. I especially love the jive-talking in the women's restroom. I almost died laughing.

I saw this when I was about 13. I saw it again on Friday and had the time of my life studying the colors and humor created by the images. You'll laugh at what the characters say and do, and how they sound (especially Tone Loc as baby Pee-wee), but the funniest thing, really, is how over-the-top the action scenes are. It's also, surprisingly, a nice romance.

I wish I could warn the entire world about renting this *instead* of any "Problem Child" film; but hey, can't stop 'em all.

-Sep

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.