ReaderKenka
Let's be realistic.
Huievest
Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
ChanFamous
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
mark.waltz
While Katherine Hepburn made some obscure theatrically released movies in her time, they are of a mixed bag. 1956's "The Iron Petticoat" is a cold war comedy so bad that even Kate refused to acknowledge it. 1973's film version of "A Delicate Balance" is an artistic curiosity, definitely for fans of Edward Albee but maybe not for fans of Kate and Spencer. Then, there's "Olly Olly Oxen Free", a barely released children's adventure tale where the great Kate takes on the challenge of aiding some adorable kids in creating a hot air balloon which gets lost and ends up in the most precarious of locations.Kate is the only name in this film which didn't even get big screen releases in New York or Los Angeles and which many people have probably never heard of. It had a VHS release in the 1990's which had customers at the video store I worked at in shock because they hadn't been aware of its existence. What it turns out to be is a fun popcorn style movie that might seem ridiculous in plot, but enjoyable not only for her presence, but also the chemistry between her and the kids, the adventures they encounter, and a surprise ending that may have your eyes rolling in spite of the fact that you are entering it into your log of guilty pleasures.
Lee Eisenberg
As I was watching the eye-rolling "Olly, Olly, Oxen Free", I got the feeling that Katharine Hepburn felt uncomfortable in it. The role probably embarrassed her. It's just a big attempt to be cute, one that comes out irritating. The Pixar movie "Up" did a far better and cleverer job with the topic. I haven't seen all of Hepburn's movies, but I'll go out on a limb and say that this was probably her worst. To riff on the movie's tag-line, if this is what dreams are made of, then there are only nightmares. Having gotten released in the same year as "The Deer Hunter", "Coming Home", "Who'll Stop the Rain", "Animal House", "The Boys from Brazil", "Every Which Way But Loose" and "Superman" only further weakens the movie. Just avoid it.
Bill Peterson
My children & I got to see it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Katherine Hepburn is marvelous, and the two kids are wonderful.The scenes with the hot-air balloon are really fun to watch. The relationship between Ms. Hepburn's relationship with the young boys is touching as it grows.The scenes over and in the Hollywood Bowl are great... I enjoyed the way the scenes were shot and staged.My children, (boy & girl), loved the old car that Ms. Hepbrun drove, as well as the old English Sheepdog that was the boys' companion.To top it off, the film boasts of a great music score!
BadWebDiver
This is the worst movie I remember watching as a kid. I can distinctly recall the time my family hired this film on video, and me and my brother begged my parents half-way through to PLEASE let us go outside and play and not have to watch this b-o-r-i-n-g story. They finally relented.I'm a bit regretful now that I know who classic actress Katherine Hepburn is, but I still rank this as the most ponderous children's story I've ever had to watch. It's the kind of movie that gives family films a bad name.
