Ever wondered what would happen if a movie was based on a comedian's stand up skit? Well, back in the early 90s, filmmaker Reginald Hudlin and animator Bruce W. Smith decided to take a crack at one, based on a bit called "Bebe's Kids" from the late comedian Robin Harris (he passed away two years before the film came out). Known as the first animated feature with a predominately African-American cast (besides Ralph Bakshi's Coonskin), it wasn't received too well on its original release but it did gain a notable cult following for how attitude driven it was for its time. Although, that "attitude" may have resulted in a mixed bag of a flick.
The basic storyline follows Robin Harris meeting a single mom named Jamika and choosing to take her, the son and three other kids from the mom's friend Bebe to an amusement park called Fun World, and chaos ensues from there. That actually almost sums up the entirety of the movie honestly, as most of the film doesn't really have a cohesive plot outside of the kids running around causing trouble and Robin trying to watch control while being the best companion he can be. Therefore, the overall narrative pads along in a desperate attempt to find any sense of conflict or tension, but anything that does come up feels more like check marked plot points than a well constructed story, like enemies getting in the way and whatever mayhem the kids cause. Also, the film handles themes of responsibility, justice for all and poverty come off as too forced for their own good, as if we're being told to sympathize with the characters instead of letting the natural emotions seep through naturally. Maybe they should have developed the kid's background more than having them run around the park like lunatics.
In terms of humor, while the film goes for a sly and raunchy style with slick one liners and jabs on society, it also tries to hit too many targets in its approach instead of having one big focus. It doesn't help that some of these attempts at wit include rap songs that are either charming yet superfluous to the narrative or just unnecessary filler. The only big exception would be the Freedom Song, since it does happen when the kids are in a very tight situation and it helps represent a commentary on the injustice of minorities. Character wise, besides Robin, Jamika, the kids and Leon, everyone else are either side obstacles like Robin's ex-wife Dorothea and the park security, or just used for quips and side duties like Robin's friends and other children at Fun World. Robin himself would seem like a charming albeit short tempered role model for the kids, but the way the movie flip flops tones makes it feel like he never really cares for them too much. If anything, the kids are more like symbols of trouble and juvenility than actual interesting figures to be looked out over.
Now given that the film had a much smaller budget and production schedule than most animated movies at the time, the animation itself is enjoyable to watch albeit with some notable limitations,. These include general character animation, limited background movements and a much tamer approach at slapstick than even most Warner Bros. cartoons. Not that the animation is bad, in fact it does make use of subtlety bright colors and the dynamic character designs of director Bruce Smith, it's just that it lacks a special punch that would make it really come to full life on the screen. That being said, if there's anyone who seemed to have the most fun on this movie, it would have to be the voice cast. Faizon Love is delightfully hammy and smooth as Robin, Vanessa Bell Calloway fits the concerned albeit caring mother role for Jamika, and all the child actors must have a blast being themselves as the little troublemaking youth. It's also a nice added touch to have rapper Tone Loc give a deep gravely voice to the baby Pee-Wee, adding more hysterics to the already wacky children.
Despite its good intentions and how ruthless it was to be itself, Bebe's Kids is a mediocre attempt at a standup film adaptation with a cluttered story, hit or miss characters and lively yet unspectacular animation. That being said, it does remain as a fascinating product of its time, mainly for how culturally relevant it was in depicting the lives of African Americans in the medium of animation. We still don't have as much of those as we could, but just knowing that the Hudlins and Bruce Smith showed no compromises in bringing this earnest project to life is way more humble than anyone can give the feature credit for.
The basic storyline follows Robin Harris meeting a single mom named Jamika and choosing to take her, the son and three other kids from the mom's friend Bebe to an amusement park called Fun World, and chaos ensues from there. That actually almost sums up the entirety of the movie honestly, as most of the film doesn't really have a cohesive plot outside of the kids running around causing trouble and Robin trying to watch control while being the best companion he can be. Therefore, the overall narrative pads along in a desperate attempt to find any sense of conflict or tension, but anything that does come up feels more like check marked plot points than a well constructed story, like enemies getting in the way and whatever mayhem the kids cause. Also, the film handles themes of responsibility, justice for all and poverty come off as too forced for their own good, as if we're being told to sympathize with the characters instead of letting the natural emotions seep through naturally. Maybe they should have developed the kid's background more than having them run around the park like lunatics.
In terms of humor, while the film goes for a sly and raunchy style with slick one liners and jabs on society, it also tries to hit too many targets in its approach instead of having one big focus. It doesn't help that some of these attempts at wit include rap songs that are either charming yet superfluous to the narrative or just unnecessary filler. The only big exception would be the Freedom Song, since it does happen when the kids are in a very tight situation and it helps represent a commentary on the injustice of minorities. Character wise, besides Robin, Jamika, the kids and Leon, everyone else are either side obstacles like Robin's ex-wife Dorothea and the park security, or just used for quips and side duties like Robin's friends and other children at Fun World. Robin himself would seem like a charming albeit short tempered role model for the kids, but the way the movie flip flops tones makes it feel like he never really cares for them too much. If anything, the kids are more like symbols of trouble and juvenility than actual interesting figures to be looked out over.
Now given that the film had a much smaller budget and production schedule than most animated movies at the time, the animation itself is enjoyable to watch albeit with some notable limitations,. These include general character animation, limited background movements and a much tamer approach at slapstick than even most Warner Bros. cartoons. Not that the animation is bad, in fact it does make use of subtlety bright colors and the dynamic character designs of director Bruce Smith, it's just that it lacks a special punch that would make it really come to full life on the screen. That being said, if there's anyone who seemed to have the most fun on this movie, it would have to be the voice cast. Faizon Love is delightfully hammy and smooth as Robin, Vanessa Bell Calloway fits the concerned albeit caring mother role for Jamika, and all the child actors must have a blast being themselves as the little troublemaking youth. It's also a nice added touch to have rapper Tone Loc give a deep gravely voice to the baby Pee-Wee, adding more hysterics to the already wacky children.
Despite its good intentions and how ruthless it was to be itself, Bebe's Kids is a mediocre attempt at a standup film adaptation with a cluttered story, hit or miss characters and lively yet unspectacular animation. That being said, it does remain as a fascinating product of its time, mainly for how culturally relevant it was in depicting the lives of African Americans in the medium of animation. We still don't have as much of those as we could, but just knowing that the Hudlins and Bruce Smith showed no compromises in bringing this earnest project to life is way more humble than anyone can give the feature credit for.