‘Balto’ By Kevin McManus Washington Post Staff Writer December 22, 1995

Director: simon Wells Cast: Kevin Bacon; Bob Hoskins; Phil Collins; Bridget Fonda; Juliette Brewer; Jim Cummings General audience Compare prices for this movie Find local video stores More movie shopping Save money with NextCard Visa

It's the first big animation picture to open since "Toy Story" rocked the genre, and as such, it feels modest and outmoded. The story is sound, the animation is very good, but "Balto" suffers simply because it lacks Pixar's wondrous 3-D animation look.

The canine hero (voiced by Kevin Bacon) is a brave, handsome mutt who's half wolf, half husky and mostly shunned by the dogs and humans of Nome, Alaska. Two characters who like him are a cute husky named Jenna (Bridget Fonda) and Jenna's owner, little Rosy (Juliette Brewer).

The year is 1925. A diphtheria epidemic threatens the town's children, and a blizzard threatens a medicine shipment sent from the south. When a crack sled-dog team is assembled for a rescue mission, Balto is rejected because of his half-breed status.

But the mission goes awry, and Balto sets out on his own to give assistance. Braving bears, avalanches and a nemesis husky, our hero takes the lead spot on the dog team. But can he guide the sled back to Nome?

It's fun to watch him try—even if it ain't done up in Pixar.

Rated G. Nothing offensive.

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