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Bebe's Kids (/ˈbeɪbeɪ/ BAY-bay; also marketed as Robin Harris' Bebe's Kids) is a 1992 American adult animated comedy film[3] produced by Hyperion Studio for Paramount Pictures. Directed by Bruce W. Smith in his directorial debut, it is based on a stand-up routine created by comedian Robin Harris.[4] Harris died two years prior to the film's release; in the film, he is voiced by Faizon Love in his acting debut. As the first animated film to feature an entirely African-American main cast, it co-stars Vanessa Bell Calloway, Marques Houston, Nell Carter and Tone Lōc.[5]
| Bebe's Kids | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bruce W. Smith |
| Screenplay by | Reginald Hudlin |
| Based on | Bebe's Kids by Robin Harris |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Edited by |
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| Music by | John Barnes |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 72 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10 million[1] |
| Box office | $8.4 million[2] |
Originally released theatrically on July 31, 1992 by Paramount Pictures, Bebe's Kids was a critical and commercial failure. Although its animation was praised, critics found fault with its story, screenplay and humor. Bebe's Kids grossed $8.4 million at the box office against a budget of $10 million, becoming a box office bomb. Despite this, it spawned a video game of the same name two years later, which was likewise panned by critics.[1]
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The original stand-up routine by Robin Harris is shown in a brief live-action segment before an animated version of Harris woefully recounts his troubles to a blind bartender. He traces his problems back to Jamika, a woman he met at a funeral.
Outside the wake, Robin approaches Jamika and asks her out. Jamika picks up her mild-mannered son, Leon, from the babysitter and invites Robin to come along with her to the amusement park, Fun World, which Robin agrees to.
The next day, Jamika introduces Robin to the three children of her hedonistic friend Bebe - consisting of LaShawn, Kahlil, and the smooth-talking baby Pee-Wee.
All six travel to Fun World, but are confronted by security at the entrance, and warned they are being watched. Upon entering the park, Bebe's kids are set loose and promptly wreak havoc. Robin's disastrous outing is further disrupted by a chance encounter with his ex-wife, Dorothea, and her portly best friend, Vivian.
After going on a couple of rides with Bebe's kids, Robin and Jamika let them go off on their own again as they attempt to enjoy a ride through the Tunnel of Love, where Jamika commends Robin for his endurance. While Robin and Jamika spend time together on their own, Leon tries to fit in with Bebe's kids but is at first unsuccessful, although they allow him to tag along. The kids then resume their mischief until they are caught by security. However, they escape and convince a group of other free-range children to spread the chaos.
Meanwhile, Dorothea and Vivian attempt to sabotage the growing relationship between Robin and Jamika but are thwarted by Robin.
Elsewhere, in an abandoned building, Leon and Bebe's kids finds animatronic versions of the Terminator, Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon, and are put on trial. The Terminator animatronic acts as judge who decides whether their antics are worth sending to the electric chair, while Lincoln acts as the Bebe's kids defense attorney with "Nixon" as the prosecutor. Leon proves his courage through a rap that not only wins their freedom but also gains him Bebe's kids' respect. They celebrate their victory by stealing a pirate ship and crashing it into a recreation of the RMS Titanic, taking the crew and passengers hostage, including Dorothea and Vivian.
Robin and Jamika finally leave Fun World, with the park ultimately crumbling in destruction through Robin's rearview mirror. When a cop passes, Robin tries to get his attention, but Bebe's kids scare the officer away.
Robin drops the Bebe's kids off at their apartment, where he sees how they really live. Bebe, as usual, is nowhere to be seen, and has left a note on the empty refrigerator, expecting Jamika to feed the kids. Sad to see Robin go, Bebe's kids bid him an emotional goodbye, but not before he gives them what money he has left so they can order themselves a pizza.
At the bar, Robin has a change of heart and returns to hang out with Bebe's kids a little while longer, despite all the mayhem they've caused. The kids force him to take them all to Las Vegas, where everybody flees in terror when they recognize the kids. Pee-Wee finds and pulls a plug out of a socket, causing a citywide blackout.
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- Faizon Love as Robin Harris[6]
- Harris makes a live-action appearance in the opening scene.
- Vanessa Bell Calloway as Jamika
- Marques Houston as Kahlil
- Jonell Green as LaShawn
- Tone Lōc as Pee-Wee
- Wayne Collins Jr. as Leon
- Myra J. as Dorothea
- Nell Carter as Vivian
- Phillip Glasser as Winthrop "Opie"
- Louie Anderson as Security Guard #1
- Tom Everett as Security Guard #2
- X-Ray as Security Guard #3
- Rich Little as President Nixon
- Amy Rose Seville as Brooke
- John Witherspoon as Card Player #1
- Beatrice Miller as Card Player #2
- Bud Wiley as Card Player #3
- George Wallace as Card Player #4
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In the original act, Robin's prospective girlfriend, Jamika, asks him to take her and her son to a Disneyland-type amusement park, but when he agrees she shows up with four sons, three of whom are the neglected by her friend, Bebe, whom Jamika refuses to judge.
Bebe's kids are misbehaved truants and violent troublemakers, over whom Jamika does not attempt to exercise any control. They terrorize park staff, cut off Donald Duck's feet to use for swimming, try to steal Robin's 8-track while he's listening to it, and make a general menace of themselves, literally destroying the park. Their reputation is so bad that even the police refuse to mess with them. In the second act, Robin is picked up from a bar by Jamika and the kids. The kids force him to take them to Las Vegas. Pee-Wee pulls out a power cord and the city's power goes out.[7]
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| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tear It Up (On Our Worst Behavior)" | Chris Stokes, Christopher Stewart, Jermaine Dupri, Thaddis Harrell, Marquis Dair | Immature | 3:26 |
| 2. | "I Got It Bad Y'all" | Roger McBride, Eric Brooks, Mark Jordan | King Tee | 3:28 |
| 3. | "I Got the 411" | Taura Taylor-Mendoza, Bajita Ivie, Humphrey Riley | Urban Prop | 5:04 |
| 4. | "It Takes Two to Make a Party" | Max Elliott, Tyrone Wilkins, Howard Thompson, Michael Bennett | Maxi Priest featuring Little Shawn | 3:56 |
| 5. | "66 Mello" | George Worrell Jr., William Collins, Claydes Smith, George Clinton Jr., Dennis Thomas, George Brown, Robert Mickens, Robert Bell, Ronald Bell, James Phillips, Michael O. Johnson, Otha Nash, Richard Westfield | New Version of Soul | 4:57 |
| 6. | "Oh No!" | Todd Thomas, Timothy Barnwell | Arrested Development | 4:56 |
| 7. | "Straight Jackin'" | Reginald Hudlin, Eric Sadler, William Stephney, Chris Champion, Michael Berrin | Bebe's Kids (Wayne Collins, Jonell Green, Marques Houston) featuring Tone Lōc | 2:49 |
| 8. | "Freedom Song" | Hudlin, Allen Hayes, Stephney, Champion, Berrin | Bebe's Kids (Wayne Collins, Jonell Green, Marques Houston) featuring Tone Lōc | 2:44 |
| 9. | "I Ain't Havin' It" | Hudlin, Sadler, Hayes | Faizon Love | 3:25 |
| 10. | "Standing on the Rock of Love" | John Barnes, William Griffin, Cynthia Mizelle | Aretha Franklin | 5:04 |
| 11. | "Your Love Keeps Working on Me" | Joey Diggs, Barnes, Ronald White | Joey Diggs | 4:56 |
| 12. | "Can't Say Goodbye" | Barnes, Griffin, White | The O'Jays | 5:18 |
| 13. | "Deeper" | Barnes, Griffin | Ronald Isley | 5:49 |
| 14. | "All My Love" | William Miller Jr., Carole Stevens | Phil Perry featuring Renee Diggs | 6:18 |
| 15. | "I Want to Thank You for Your Love" | Barnes, Griffin, White, Wanda Vaughn | The Emotions | 4:29 |
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The original theatrical and home video release were preceded by the short Itsy Bitsy Spider.[8]
Critical reception
The film received negative reviews from critics.[9][10][11] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 36% "rotten" score based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 4.4/10.[12]
Box office
In its opening weekend, the film ranked seventh with $3,010,987, behind Death Becomes Her, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Mo' Money, A League of Their Own, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sister Act.[13][14][15] Its final domestic total is $8,442,162.[2][16]
Accolades
Bebe's Kids was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Animated Feature at the 20th Annie Awards, losing to Beauty and the Beast.
Home media
The film was released on VHS by Paramount Home Video on March 10, 1993, as well as on Laserdisc on March 17. It was then released on DVD on October 5, 2004. It was also previously included in the Warner Archive Collection.[17] Paramount reissued the film on DVD in May 2020. On July 12, 2022, the film was released on Blu-ray for the first time.[18]
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The film was later adapted into a video game for the Super NES in 1994.[19]
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