Troy Herman

I was nearly an adult when this gem was released in theaters back in 1990. Not only had I been a fan of the original cartoon TV series but teen pop queen Tiffany was the voice of daughter Judy?!! Yeah- my ticket was guaranteed. The primary characters remain as lovable and bumbling and engaging as always. The look of the film was mostly great. Save for one or two where weak animation showed. While a bit thin on the overall plot, I was engaged. The music wasn't always a plus. Tiffany's single "I Always Thought I'd See You Again" remains a personal favorite but admittedly is very much a product of the teen music scene via 1989 (when it was recorded). Her other songs "Home" and "You and Me" are nothing offensive. The former being the best between them. The remainder of the soundtrack is immediately forgettable. As much as I was and am to this day a hard core Tiffany fan- casting her as the speaking and singing voice of Judy was a mistake. Not that Tiffany didn't deliver a perfectly splendid performance and the mistake is not hers in any way. There are sound bites here and there where Janet Waldo (Judy's original voice) popped up in scenes with Tiff speaking as Judy. It was off-putting to say the least. Why not just have Waldo return as Judy? That move angered long time fans and understandably so. The other characters maintained their original voices. Beyond the Judy snafu- it's a brightly colorful family film that truly is for families. George's work woes, daughter Judy's teen angst, Elroy missing his friends when the family moves and Jane keeping everyone together - it covers the ages. This isn't high art and it was never meant to be. Sit back with your popcorn and recall Saturday mornings and make new memories with your children.