Barnes & Noble

This direct-to-video live-action Walt Disney adventure mixes a bit of Bambi, a dash of The Incredible Journey, and a hearty dollop of Dumbo into a rich natural gumbo, breathtakingly photographed by Emmy Award-winning nature filmmaker Dereck Joubert. Joubert captures majestic landscapes and African wildlife in a way that may even distract déjà vu-inclined parents from the formulaic story. And kids are sure to be captivated by the journey of Whispers, an adorable newborn elephant who is separated from his mother, shunned by his adopted herd, and paired with fellow outcast Groove in a search for water and family. Lending their voices to the critters are Angela Bassett (as Groove), Betty White, Anne Archer, Joan Rivers, and Joanna Lumley (of Absolutely Fabulous). Although it earns a G rating, Whispers includes some scenes of forced separation, animal attacks (by lions and tigers and crocodiles, oh my!), and gun-toting Takers (poachers) that may upset some youngsters. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

Beverly Joubert and Derek Joubert, a husband-and-wife team who've won widespread acclaim (and a certain amount of controversy) for their beautiful but unflinchingly realistic wildlife documentaries (including Eternal Enemies and Wildlife Warriors), wrote and directed this feature-length drama that uses footage of animals in the wild to tell a story about elephants in their native environment. After the death of its mother, a baby elephant named Whispers (voice of Debi Derryberry) grabs the tail of Groove (voice of Angela Bassett), a pachyderm exiled from her tribe. Groove is hardly the nurturing type, but the child won't let go, and soon she bonds with the youngster as they make their way through the dangers of the jungle in search of the Great River, a fabled paradise for their kind. Anne Archer, Joanna Lumley, and Alice Ghostley are among the actors who provide the "voices" of the animals; the entire film was shot at the Chobe National Park in Botswana, South Africa, a nature preserve where the Jouberts live and work. Whispers: An Elephant's Tale was financed and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 786936160789
• Source: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan
• Sound: Dolby Digital Surround
• Time: 1:12:00
• Sales Rank: 20,838

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