There is a lot to like about the 'Faerie Tale Theatre' series. Many of their adaptations of various well-known and well-loved fairy tales are charming, clever and sometimes funny, a few even emotionally moving. 'Faerie Tale Theatre' puts its own magical spin on the best of the episodes while still capturing the essence of the stories, while also giving further enjoyments in seeing talented performers in early roles or in roles that are departures from their usual roles.
'Fairy Tale Theatre' have few misfires from personal opinion, certainly not on irredeemable level, and have many good or more episodes and some real gems. A few like "The Nightingale" and perhaps "Sleeping Beauty" of the episodes before "Little Red Riding Hood" are divisive (liked both by the way, while acknowledging that not every asset worked). While not perhaps working for everyone, "Little Red Riding Hood" is one of the gems of the series to me, one of the funniest and most fun.
Some of the first section before the wolf shows up is a little slow-moving and could have done with more bite, and maybe the wolf's famous attempted deception of Little Red Riding Hood dressed as the Grandmother is a little repetitious. That said, that is not necessarily the fault of 'Faerie Tale Theatre', while that bit is fun it is repetitive in the fairy-tale as well.
"Little Red Riding Hood" has a huge amount to recommend. The best asset is Malcolm McDowell, one of the series' more experienced actors at the time and one of those doing a role that wasn't really a departure but completely played to his strengths as a performer. He injects some menace but mostly is truly hilarious fun and clearly is having the time of his life, when he enjoys himself that much it is very hard not to enjoy him too. His wife at the time Mary Steenburgen is perhaps too old for Little Red Riding Hood, but she is cute and feisty and has just as much fun as McDowell. The chemistry between them is wonderful and just a joy, both make the most of the climactic scenes that do have impact despite the somewhat repetitiveness of the famous "oh what big... you have" and do manage to make that part entertaining and somewhat eerie too.
Visually, "Little Red Riding Hood" is good. Low-budget sure, none of the 'Faerie Tale Theatre' had "big-budget Hollywood" budgets and essentially were made for TV, but hardly cheap. It has lovingly picturesque sets and scenery, while McDowell's make-up and costume is some of the better-looking and most appropriate-looking of the series when some of the episodes had shoestring-budget costumes and bizarre make-up. The music is jaunty and creepy as it ought to be.
The script has some of the funniest dialogue of any episode of 'Faerie Tale Theatre', though a little more adult than child-friendly. A lot of it, especially McDowell's, is absolutely hilarious with tongue firmly in cheek without feeling too camp or broad to veer on vulgarity. It avoids the ahead of its time innuendos the series sometimes has that at times can feel out of place in the episodes based on fairy-tales that are better played straight (i.e. "Sleeping Beauty").
"Little Red Riding Hood's" story is slight, but has the right mix of genuinely funny comedy and intensely dark drama (although not obvious to a child the fairy-tale does have some dark elements that are included here) without ever being traumatising. Both are balanced well without jarring too much, sometimes a problem when a film or TV episode takes on more than one tone.
Acting is all good, nothing amateurish here, and the chemistry is all there. But it is McDowell's show all the way and he is a huge part of the episode's appeal.
In conclusion, an imperfect gem, but a gem nonetheless (if perhaps not necessarily working for all). 9/10 Bethany Cox
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