Bébé's Kids

**Bébé's Kids** is a 1992 American animated comedy film directed by Bruce W. Smith which was released on July 31, 1992 by Paramount Pictures.

It is based on late comedian Robin Harris' stand-up comedy act of the same name.

## Plot

Robin Harris (voiced by Faizon Love) hits it off with a gorgeous woman named Jamika (Vanessa Bell Calloway), whom he meets at her boss' funeral. On the ride back, Robin is introduced to Jamika's well-behaved young son, Leon (voiced by Wayne Collins).

Jamika asks Robin if he wants to go with them to the amusement park the next day which Robin accepts.

The next day when he arrives, Robin is surprised to learn that Jamika is watching her friend, Bébé's three children: Kahlil, LaShawn & Pee-Wee (voiced by Marques Houston, Jonell Green & Tone Lōc), who turn out to be quite rambunctious & out of control.

## Voice Cast

* Faizon Love as Robin Harris
* 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
* Rich Little as President Nixon
* John Witherspoon as Card Player #1
* George Wallace as Card Player #4

## Production

According to director Bruce W. Smith, "Bébé's Kids" was originally planned to be a television movie.

## Box Office

"Bébé's Kids" grossed $3,010,987 during its opening weekend and ranked at #7 at the box office (behind the films "Death Becomes Her", "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid", "Mo' Money", "A League of Their Own", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Sister Act"). Overall, it grossed $8,422,1962 worldwide.

## Critical Reception

"Bébé's Kids" received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 30% based on 10 reviews with an average rating of 4.40\10.

Marjorie Baumgarten from the Austin Chronicle said: *"The humor remains true to its source and contains material that will appeal to both young and old alike. The animation is simple and adequate, nothing too snazzy or cutting edge but certainly entertaining and serviceable enough."*

Caryn James from the New York Times said that the film has *"a cute, kiddy, hip-hop score (including a bouncy rap track about freedom) and a social message about caring for children like Bebe's"*, but it isn't *"as much fun as it should have been, or might have been if Mr. Harris's brash presence had been live on screen."*

Writing for Variety, Joseph McBride said: *"Based on a comedy routine by the late Robin Harris about his encounter with some “bad-ass kids” from the inner city, Paramount’s “Bebe’s Kids” is a sassy, good-looking animated pic aimed effectively at the black family audience."*

Kevin Thomas from the Los Angeles Times called "Bebe’s Kids" an *"imaginative delight"* and described it as being *"funny, bouncy, keyed to a zesty, driving score, yet it’s also blunt about what it’s like to be black in white man’s America."*

Chris Hicks from the Deseret News said the film waters down Robin Harris' *"insightful, raucous routines, using stylized animation that wears out its welcome about halfway through."*

Malcolm Johnson from the Hartford Courant wrote that "Bebe’s Kids" is *"circuslike at times, but it's a dubious family picture and not really an unalloyed delight for adults either."*