utgard14
Kiddy movie about a spirited redhead named Pippi Longstocking who's separated from her sea captain father in a storm and comes to live in a small town. There she introduces the kids to her madcap ways while dealing with stuffy adults and some thieves. Okay this is meant for kids and only kids, so let's keep that in mind before ripping it apart. I know it's corny and cheesy and I can't say that I enjoyed it very much, but I think I might have if I had seen it when I was a child. I am old enough to have seen this when it was first released but, for some reason, I didn't. Truth is I forgot this movie even existed until recently catching it on TV. The cast all does fine, particularly Tami Erin as Pippi. Not recognizing her, I looked at her other roles and saw this was the biggest part in her limited acting career. I also saw that she did a sex tape a few years ago. I can only imagine that is either deeply disturbing or extremely exciting to people who were fans of her back in the day. Aside from Tami, there's some solid support from vets like Eileen Brennan, Dick Van Patten, and John Schuck. There are also many songs in this but none is more catchy than the theme song that's repeated throughout the movie. I want to warn you in advance, this song will find a corner of your brain to inhabit and it will be impossible to get it out. Overall, it's a fun little movie that will play better to pre-teen girls than anybody else. Just be prepared that it's pretty sugary and corny. Oh, and that theme song will stay in your brain forever.
romymehlman
I highly recommend this film for any family with children. This is a top quality production that is great for the whole family to watch! Anyone who I have ever met who has seen this movie loves it, and children who have it on VHS or DVD watch it over and over again. I only wish it was re-released theatrically, so that this generation of children could have the opportunity to see it and embrace it the way I did when I was a child.
TxMike
I got this DVD from my local county library to help entertain my 8-year-old granddaughter Lauren. She loved it! She saw it twice. I asked her why she liked it so much and she said, "Pippi has so many adventures, and makes friends with everyone she meets, that's why the movie is so much fun to watch." Grandpa and grandma enjoyed it too, we laughed a number of times, especially with the talking horse and the talking monkey. But this is definitely for the smaller set, and it can only be rated in how well it entertains them.SPOILERS FOLLOW:Pippi and her dad sail the high seas, a storm knocks them all in the water, Pippi, the horse, and the monkey end up on a raft. Then they are at home, alone, the local social worker tries to get her in school. Pippi makes friends with the family next door, some crooks try to buy the house and steal the gold in Pippi's cellar, she saves two small kids from the burning orphanage, she buys ice cream and candy bars for all the kids waiting to get haircuts, finally sends a note in a bottle to get her dad home, he shows up for Christmas, they start to sail away afterward, Pippi and horse jump in the water, she stays behind with her new friends.
Willscrlt
Just finished watching Jewel of the Nile and before I could shut off the TV and go to bed at a semi-reasonable hour, Pippi came on. Somehow, I got sucked into the movie and now over here to IMDB. Maybe it was the catchy tunes or wanting to find out if the cute kids in the movie ever went on to star in anything noteworthy (none did, except the head girl who I didn't like).I'm in my 30s, have no kids, and have never read the books or seen any other Pippi books. Guess what? I enjoyed it a lot! Sure. It's goofy, doesn't always make sense, is anachronistic at times, and is not serious cinematography. But I liked it.The music was cheerful, the songs were uplifting and arguably one of the best parts of the movie. The kids were great, too. It's sad that the actress playing Pippi didn't go on to do more work (especially if it had been more age-appropriate... hard to imagine she was only 10). She did a really fine job. I also got a kick out of seeing Dick Van Patten in his bit part.The monkey was probably the worst actor in the film, but since they probably paid him peanuts (and bananas), they probably didn't waste any money.The flying machine was totally unrealistic, but it IS a kids movie. The cleaning of the floors was probably the best scene in the movie.It was just good clean fun that I would be happy to let my kids watch (if I had any), and the songs are WAY better than Barney's. :-) People who object to the film have just left their childhood senses of wonder long behind. They don't believe Pippi when she says that you can do just about anything if you believe in it.
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