Rating: - outstanding alternative to Disney/Pixar formulaic releases of today
there isn't a star-studded soundtrack. there aren't guest appearances by every grown-up's favorite comedians. there is a noticeable lack of sarcasm. there aren't any kids saying grown-up "quasi curse phrases" like "that blows!" "he sucks" or any of that stuff.

in other words, it's vintage disney -- from that era when disney actually created movies for CHILDREN, instead of attempting to entertain "the entire family" by introducing borderline material that most kids under the age of 10 (like my 8- and 5-year-old) have no business hearing.

the "villains" are silly, hapless caricatures of "bad guys," and while they do carry and shoot guns, it's very stooges-y slapsticky types of "violence." somewhere along the line, "modern parents" and pop culture collectively decided that silly armed villains are a bigger menace to society than children who say mean, hurtful, sarcastic things to each other, their parents, teachers and all other adults/authority figures.

frankly, movies like THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG are more than funny and entertaining; they possess a charm and innocence that children aren't allowed to have anymore, because america wants their children to grow up as soon as possible. unfortunately, on a social level, "growing up" too often means being disrespectful, negative, cynical and sarcastic at far too early an age.

don't mean to be on the soapbox, don't mean to be too old-fashioned, but this wonderful movie is more than just a fun two hours for the family...it's a reminder that maybe it's not such a bad idea to make childhood last a little longer than it seems to now.

worth every penny...just like the benji and original herbie movies. my kids love it!