| The Little Engine That Could | |
|---|---|
.jpg) DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Elliot M. Bour[1] |
| Screenplay by | David Koepp John Kamps Cliff Ruby Elana Lesser |
| Story by | David Koepp John Kramps |
| Based on | the book by Watty Piper |
| Produced by | Richard Rich |
| Starring | Alyson Stoner Whoopi Goldberg Patrick Warburton Jim Cummings Rodney Saulsberry Dominic Scott Kay Brenda Song Jamie Lee Curtis Charlie Schlatter Jodi Benson Corbin Bleu Jeff Bennett Khamani Griffin |
| Edited by | Joe Campana |
| Music by | Heitor Pereira |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 82 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Little Engine That Could is a 2011 Americandirect-to-video animatedadventure film based onthe 1930 story by Watty Piper (specifically based on the 2005 illustrations by Loren Long).[3] The film stars the voices ofAlyson Stoner,Whoopi Goldberg,Corbin Bleu,Jodi Benson,Patrick Warburton andJamie Lee Curtis.[4]
In the magical world of Dream Land, Little Engine is a small shunter who dreams to become a Dream Hauler, responsible for delivering wishes and dreams to the Real World. Encouraged by the old but wise Rusty, Little Engine continues to aspire to greater things.
In the Real World, a boy named Richard runs away to the local park after his grandfather's pocket watch is stolen by school bullies Scott and Stretch. He gets inside a train, unaware that it is Rusty who departs for Dream Land. Richard's accidental arrival causes the tunnel between worlds to collapse, stranding him and the trains. The Tower demotes Rusty to a track-cleaner, much to Little Engine's dismay. Learning about an ancient route over Dream Mountain, she offers to help by returning Richard to the Real World if Rusty is reinstated. The Tower agrees, although she is likely kidding.
Little Engine and Richard set out and are nearly run over by the high-speed Evening Express. They soon encounter Engine 35's birthday present train, which was derailed as a result of the tunnel collapse. When the larger engines refuse to believe that the old tracks exist, Little Engine, Richard, and the toys aboard the birthday train decide to continue alone. The group locates the old tracks and begins climbing Dream Mountain. Crossing a rickety wooden bridge, part of the structure collapses, puncturing a hole in Little Engine's water tank. By using a nearby pole to replace the broken rail, they finish crossing.
That night, Little Engine's leaking water tank leaves her stranded. A dark gray steam locomotive suddenly appears out of nowhere and offers to take Richard and the toys to the Real World. He is soon revealed to be the Nightmare Train and kidnaps Little Engine's friends. Ace the airplane escapes to help Little Engine by refilling her tank at a nearby water tower. Richard manages to escape as well and reunites with Little Engine, who pursues the Nightmare Train and rescues the others. With great effort, she climbs to the mountain's peak, opening the portal to the Real World. The toys are delivered, and almost no time has passed when Richard returns to his school.
After bidding farewell to Little Engine, Richard finally stands up to Scott and Stretch, reclaiming his grandfather's watch. The bullies are punished by the principal, while Richard heads home and decides to keep his adventure in Dream Land a secret. Meanwhile, Little Engine is promoted to a Dream Hauler, Rusty is reinstated and honored with a ticker tape parade, and the toys find new homes and five new owners in the Real World. The Nightmare Train, defeated, is left derailed on a snowbank.
Attributed to the following source:[5][additional citation(s) needed]
Common Sense Media gave the film three stars stating that young train fans will enjoy the message-filled ride.[6]
Jon Lyus from HeyUGuys called the film "a perfectly fine version of the story", but criticized its similarities to theBBC seriesChuggington, which also features trains as characters.[7]