I recently re-watched “Babe: Pig In The City” and I was a little disappointed that I’d reminded myself that it’s not as charming as the original. Sure, the first one wasn’t a masterpiece or even a top mark movie but it wasn’t far behind and although “Pig in the City” is a fun movie it lacks the wit and realistic suspense and setting of the original.

In “Babe: Pig In The City” Babe (Elizabeth Daily “Happy Feet”) accidentally injures his human Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell “Babe”). Babe’s home is then threatened by bankers so Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski “The Golden Compass”) takes her husband’s beloved pig and embarks on a trip to get enough money to save the farm from being reposed. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go to plan and both Babe and Mrs. Hoggett are thrown into a world of uncertainty. Babe finds himself kidnapped by a children’s entertainer, chased by two ferocious dogs and having to save all of his new friends from an unpleasant future when they are taken to the pound.

All the animals are voiced reasonably well and they’re all given personalities. Onscreen they look wonderful too. Mrs. Hoggett’s misadventures are mildly amusing.

From beginning to end “Pig In The City” is full of ridiculous antics that defy all logic and lack the realistic charm of the original’s suspenseful moments. In the film’s defence though it does contain some lovely moments that are smarter and more mature than the majority of kids’ movies. This redeems the movie and along with some nice cutesy moments “Babe: Pig In The City” is much certainly a more child friendly movie than the last movie. If you haven’t seen “Pig In The City” and you have a small child I recommend waiting till you think they’re ready and get both because I think you need to see the first as well (and it would help if you saw it first).