She Likes to Watch

“Who Framed Roger Rabbit”? Ask the filmmakers

Stunning animation. Terrific performances. Wonderfully silly humor.

Disney doesn’t make ‘em much better than “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”

Toontown owner Marvin Acme is dead, and there’s only one suspect: popular cartoon actor Roger Rabbit, whose sexpot wife was recently spotted playing “pattycake” with the Acme mogul.

Roger claims he’s innocent. Judge Doom wants him dunked in “The Dip.”

Unfortunately for Roger, his only hope is Eddie Valiant, a hard-bitten private eye with a long-standing prejudice against ‘toons. (As Dolores the barmaid explains, “A ‘toon killed his brother. Dropped a piano on his head.”)

Set in a 1947-era Los Angeles where cartoons and humans coexist in peace, “Roger Rabbit” broke barriers in 1988 with its seamless merging of animated characters and real-life actors — the best since “Anchors Aweigh” paired dancer Gene Kelley with a cartoon mouse.

Bob Hoskins is great as Eddie, whose gruff demeanor — worthy of any film noir — starts melting as he gives into the goofy, madcap world of Toontown. And Christopher Lloyd captures a bit of cartoon creepiness as the evil and appropriately named Judge Doom.

Lucky for movie lovers, the voice talent rivals the live-action performances.

Charles Fleischer brings manic charm to Roger, pairing perfectly with sultry, sexy Jessica Rabbit (Kathleen Turner and Amy Irving share the role).

Half the fun is picking out the cartoon cameos, who range from famous faces like Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny and Betty Boop to more obscure stars.

Meanwhile, painstaking visual effects, sound effects and editing — which netted the film three Oscars, plus a special achievement award for animator Richard Williams — harken back to animation’s golden age. Paired with a funny, family-friendly script, they make “Roger Rabbit” a wonderfully zany delight.

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“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” plays tonight at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Showtimes are 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

Tickets are $7.50.

Harry Potter, original badass

Remember my disappointment about “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?”

I think I’ve found a way to beat those my-favorite-movie-won’t-come-out-til-next-year doldrums. It’s called “Wizard People, Dear Reader.”

To quote the YouTube blurb: “‘Wizard People, Dear Reader’ is an unauthorized re-envisioning of ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,’ by Brad Neely.

After spreading rapidly among Neely’s friends in Austin, ‘Wizard People’ made its theatrical debut at the New York Underground Film Festival, to rapturous applause. We think Neely has crafted an as-of-yet-unnamed new art form, one everyone should experience for themselves.”

Narrated by Brad Neely in a froggy, raspy voice, “Wizard People” is a scene-for-scene retelling of “Sorcerer’s Stone” (based on J.K. Rowling’s book) liberally laced with cuss words, flights of fantasy and outright lies.

It’s brilliant and demented, “Harry Potter” as interpreted by someone who’s watched the movie repeatedly under a haze of marijuana and Molson.

In Neely’s hands, Harry Potter (or “H.P.”) becomes a swearing, cognac-swilling Greek god. His best mate Ron Weasley comes across as a fearsome warrior nicknamed “Ronnie the Bear.” And brainy Hermoine? She’s the hideous “Harmony.”

Some of the flubs seem natural — like confusing Hagrid, the half-giant gamekeeper, with cartoon viking Hagar the Horrible. (Seriously, who hasn’t done that before?) Others are just bizarre.

You can watch the entire series, all 35 glorious chapters — including the credits, during which Neely begs the filmmakers not to sue him — right here.

“Wizard People, Dear Reader” and Neely himself are also featured in the upcoming documentary “We Are Wizards,” which takes a bemused look at the burgeoning “wizard rock” scene.

This is a place where J.K. Rowling’s books and “Harry Potter” movies inspire imaginations, where bands like Harry and the Potters and The Hungarian Horntails command legions of gleefully nerdy fans.

“We Are Wizards” is currently making the festival circuit but I hope it hits local theaters soon.

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“Wizard People, Dear Reader” is hardly the limit to Neely’s creativity.

He’s also created a series of kooky animated shorts, starring characters like Baby Cakes and The Professor Brothers. Funny and quirky to the extreme, the videos’ crazed charm comes from their musical numbers, herky-jerky animation (it’s a bit like a flipbook) and the simplicity of Neely’s drawings.

You can watch all of them at SuperDeluxe.com. As you’d expect, there are a few swear words and adult themes, so proceed with caution.

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Photo courtesy of MovieWeb.com.

Prepare to be “Spirited Away”

Hayao Miyazaki could easily be considered the godfather of modern Japanese animation.

Time and time again, he’s turned out magical, awe-inspiring movies, pairing peerless animation techniques with charming stories and fascinating characters. “Spirited Away.” one of his finest, follows a young girl through a land of gods, demons and witches unlike anything presented by Disney.

Like many fairy tales, “Spirited Away” begins with a simple mistake.

On the way to their new home, Chihiro and her parents take a wrong turn down a wooded path.

Leaving their car, they discover restaurants filled with delicious food and seemingly abandoned. Mom and Dad dig in. But their 10-year-old daughter senses something is wrong.

As night falls, she finds the area filled with faceless spirits and her parents transformed magically into pigs.

Chihiro, you see, has entered the spirit world. With the help of a mysterious boy named Haku, she must work at a bathhouse for Japan’s myriad gods in hopes of breaking the spell and preventing her parents from becoming someone’s dinner.

Like the fearless heroines in Miyazaki’s “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Princess Mononoke” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” young Chichiro overcomes her situation to discover confidence, strength and kindness.

“Spirited Away” won an Oscar for best animated movie and it’s no surprise. The scope and quality are astounding, especially given the 2001 film’s combination of digital effects and traditional 2D animation. Add a touching, inspiring plot, and you’ve got an indisputable classic.

Whether you’re a hardcore anime fan or a relative newbie, “Spirited Away” is the perfect way to experience Japanese animation.

“Spirited Away” will be screened at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. tonight at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.

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Alex “Hitch” Hitchens is one smooth operator.

As “The Date Doctor,” Hitch (Will Smith) helps clients romance the women of their dreams, offering advice on everything from first kisses to drinks and dancing. As he tells his latest client, Albert (Kevin James), “Any man has a chance to sweep any woman off her feet; he just needs the right broom.”

When Hitch meets gossip columnist Sara (Eva Mendes), however, this sophisticated guy turns into a total klutz. Could it be love?

“Hitch” plays tonight at 8 p.m. at the Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa, 2727 Shell Beach Road in Shell Beach.

Free lawn seating begins at 7:30 p.m.

Moviegoers also have the option of watching the movie while enjoying with a three-course dinner served on the patio, starting at 7 p.m.

That costs $49 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required.

Call 773-8900 for more information.