With a decidedly darker tone than its beloved predecessor, Babe: Pig in the City has George Miller in the director’s chair (yes, of Mad Max fame), who presents a world somewhere between make believe and a nightmare. Instead of the relative kindness of the farm—where killing geese for dinner is normal—the urban jungle of the city is a place where humans are threatening and animals are potential targets.
The film begins with Babe (voiced by E.G. Daily) and Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) returning home for a parade honoring the world-renowned sheep herding pig. Babe only gets to bask in the glory for a short time, however, as Hoggett suffers an accident at the hands of Babe. With Hoggett bedridden indefinitely, his wife Esme (Magda Szubanski) tries to pick up the slack, but the farm is soon in financial trouble and about to be requisitioned by the bank. A county fair offering Babe a sizable appearance fee could solve the problem. Babe an Esme pack their bags for a trip to the “Big City.”
While I don’t want to spoil the ensuing drama, suffice to say, Miller and co-writers Judy Morris and Mark Lamprell continuously find ways to create adventures for Babe, with other animals, creating authentically funny moments. Unlike a lot of kids’ movies that quickly move from scene to scene, you’ll notice that Babe: Pig in the City is slower, allowing the action to develop. Not unlike what Miller does in the Mad Max films, but this time for a younger audience.
Szubanski gives a wonderful comic performance, so good you don’t miss James Cromwell, who was such a central part of Babe. Ferdinand (Danny Mann), the goose is the only farmyard animal to follow Babe to the city, because he feels too much like Sunday lunch without his buddy gone.
Babe: Pig in the City occasionally captures the magic of its predecessor, and benefits from improved special effects.
Kino Lorber offers a “brand new HDR / Dolby Vision master from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative.” Like their 4K release of Babe, Pig in the City is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, with Dolby Vision HDR. The image is sharper than on previous releases and detail is vivid throughout. A nice level of grain gives things a filmic look. Blacks are inky and contrast is pleasing. There are no scratches or other anomalies.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack suits the film well. Rendering the animal voices clearly, the track has great clarity throughout. Nigel Westlake’s score is pleasantly mixed, never interfering with background noises or voices. Dialogue is clean, clear, and concise throughout.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following extras are available:
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- NEW!! Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff
- NEW!!! Audio Commentary by Film Historian Eddy Von Mueller
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- NEW!! Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff
- NEW!!! Audio Commentary by Film Historian Eddy Von Mueller
- A Darker World: NEW!! Interview with George Miller
- Theatrical Trailer