Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Kelly Sheridan | ... | Barbie / Clara (voice) | |
Kirby Morrow | ... | Nutcracker / Prince Eric (voice) | |
Tim Curry | ... | Mouse King (voice) | |
Peter Kelamis | ... | Pimm (voice) | |
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Christopher Gaze | ... | Major Mint (voice) |
Ian James Corlett | ... | Captain Candy (voice) | |
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French Tickner | ... | Grandfather Drosselmayer (voice) |
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Kathleen Barr | ... | Aunt Drosselmayer / Owl (voice) |
Cathy Weseluck | ... | Maid (voice) | |
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Alex Doduk | ... | Tommy (voice) |
Chantal Strand | ... | Kelly (voice) | |
Britt McKillip | ... | Peppermint Girl (voice) (as Britt Mckillip) | |
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Danny McKinnon | ... | Gingerbread Boy (voice) (as Danny Mckinnon) |
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Shona Galbraith | ... | Voice of Faeries (voice) |
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Charles Askegard | ... | New York City Ballet Dancer |
In her first movie brimming with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's enchanting music, Barbie (Kelly Sheridan) gives life to the plucky young girl, Clara, as she narrates the fascinating story of the Nutcracker to her younger sister, Kelly (Chantal Strand). When Clara receives a lustrous wooden nutcracker from Aunt Elizabeth Drosselmeyer (Kathleen Barr) as a Christmas present, that same night, the magical toy comes to life to protect her from the army of the evil Mouse King (Tim Curry). However, the invader manages to shrink her to toy size. Now, Clara and her defender, the brave Nutcracker (Kirby Morrow), embark on a marvellous adventure, in search of the beautiful Sugarplum Princess - the only one capable of breaking the spell. Can a dash of valor help Clara thwart the King's plans? Written by Nick Riganas
As I sat through this movie with my girlfriend and her nieces, I became gradually aware of how this film succeeds: it's invincible. Completely critic-proof. What can I say against this movie, exactly? Whine about how I don't like Barbie?
It's basically a modernized (and nauseatingly politically correct) take on The Nutcracker, throwing Barbie into one of the lead roles for pretty much no reason (unless you count bankability). Of course, it's a kids' flick, and relies on sparse, simple dialogue and spare editing to convey the action. It definitely works well; the girls ate it up and came back for seconds.
This is a rather interesting computer-animated movie. While it's noticeably lower-budget than Toy Story and Shrek, the visuals have a sort of subtle charm. The vast landscapes are quietly serene and beautiful without becoming overwhelming. Sometimes the motion-captured characters are placed against a flat 2D background, giving one severe flashbacks to the early days of the Playstation.
Bottom line: If you're a girl age four to ten, you'll likely enjoy every minute. Barbie's voice actress and Tim Curry as the Rat King are worth noting.