Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Babe, fresh from his victory in the sheepherding contest, returns to Farmer Hoggett's farm, but after Farmer Hoggett is injured and unable to work, Babe has to go to the big city to save the farm.
Babe: Pig in the City is a fascinatingly dark and surreal follow-up that divides audiences precisely because it swings so boldly away from the original's warmth. George Miller transforms a family film sequel into something genuinely unsettling and expressionistic — the city is a fever-dream amalgam of global landmarks, and the visual design is extraordinary, earning a strong Cinematography score. Novelty is high because this is one of the most unexpected tonal pivots in mainstream family cinema, creating a film that feels like no other. The plot holds together adequately as a picaresque but is episodic and at times incoherent, landing mid-range. Acting (largely puppetry and voice work) is competent but unremarkable. The ending feels abrupt and emotionally unearned after the punishing darkness of the middle act, leaving audiences unsatisfied.