British lore is full of heroes perfectly willing to tumble out the kitchen door for a rousing adventure, just so long as a pot of tea and a plate of sweet biscuits await them on the return home.
The poetically homespun, escapist children’s book, “The Wind in the Willows,” has captured that spirit of empire for more than 100 years now. Surely J.R.R. Tolkien had Mole in mind when, decades later, he imagined a proud hobbit living underground and alternating tea cakes with swashbuckling journeys.
A winning film version of Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows” is easily available from the mail-in DVD services. Look for the stop-motion animation dated 1983 — there have been other movie and TV versions, but this one best captures both the quiet countryside and the zany antics that gave “Willows” its unmatched style.
We meet Mole as he spring- cleans his cave-home. Tired of the work and enticed by twittering birds, he goes out to the local river for the first time and meets Rat, a dedicated boater who shows Mole the wonders of the British landscape.
After much picnicking and dozing, the friends eventually get caught up with wild Toad of Toad Hall, who blows his money on motor cars and crashes them into every hedge he encounters. A jailbreak and Toad-Hall brawl shortly ensue.
“Willows” creates a believable fantasyland punctuated by drama, friendship, morality and satisfying resolution.
“The Wind in the Willows”
Rated: For all ages, nothing in the least objectionable.
Best suited for: Children ages 3 to 6 and parents looking for a gentle break on a lazy morning.
