Ah, Christmas specials from the 80s. Sometimes they were pure magic, capturing that festive spirit perfectly. Other times… well, other times you got something like the 1986 TV movie version of Babes in Toyland. Fresh off her world-conquering turn in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), a young Drew Barrymore led the cast in this peculiar, often baffling, but undeniably memorable NBC holiday offering. If your memories of Babes in Toyland involve less Laurel and Hardy (1934) or Annette Funicello (1961) and more synth music and slightly unsettling character designs, then you, my friend, likely stumbled upon this specific slice of mid-80s television.
### A Different Kind of Wonderland
Forget subtle. This version, penned by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Zindel (known for The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds), throws eleven-year-old Lisa Piper (Barrymore) from modern-day (well, 1986 modern) Cincinnati smack into Toyland during a freak blizzard. Why? Because she's apparently too grown-up and cynical, needing a dose of childlike wonder, STAT. Toyland itself is populated by characters yanked from Mother Goose rhymes – Mary Contrary (Jill Schoelen), Jack Nimble (Keanu Reeves – yes, that Keanu Reeves in one of his earliest roles!), and the villainous Barnaby Barnacle, played with scenery-chewing glee by the great Richard Mulligan (of Soap and Empty Nest fame). The plot revolves around Mary being forced to marry the genuinely creepy Barnaby, while Lisa tries to stop the wedding and figure out how to get home. It’s a classic setup given a distinctly… 80s television filter.
### A Cast of Curiosities
Let's talk about this cast, because it's truly something. Drew Barrymore, barely ten years old during filming, carries the emotional weight with surprising earnestness. You can see the natural talent already bubbling, even when navigating some truly clunky dialogue. Her Lisa is meant to be our anchor, the slightly jaded kid rediscovering belief, and Barrymore sells it as best she can amidst the surrounding chaos.
Then there’s Richard Mulligan as Barnaby. Oh, Barnaby. Forget nuanced villainy; Mulligan dives headfirst into pure, unadulterated cartoonish evil. With his exaggerated sneer, bizarrely elongated chin prosthetic, and booming voice, he’s less a sinister threat and more a walking vaudeville act. It’s completely over-the-top, bordering on the absurd, but honestly? It’s also strangely entertaining in its sheer commitment. Opposite him, Eileen Brennan (an Oscar nominee for Private Benjamin) plays Mrs. Piper/the Wicked Witch, Barnaby’s partner-in-crime, adding another layer of campy menace. And yes, Keanu Reeves is here too, looking impossibly young and delivering his lines with a certain… stiffness that hints more at "future action hero" than "romantic lead in a fairy tale." It’s a fascinating snapshot of stars-to-be finding their footing.
### Retro Fun Facts: The Making of a TV Oddity
This Babes in Toyland was directed by Clive Donner, a British filmmaker with a varied resume that included the swinging sixties comedy What's New Pussycat? (1965) and, perhaps more relevantly, the well-regarded 1984 TV adaptation of A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott. The transition to the candy-colored, slightly surreal world of this Toyland seems to have been a bit bumpy. Filmed primarily in Munich, Germany, the production aimed for a storybook aesthetic but often landed somewhere closer to "slightly unsettling theme park."
Budget constraints typical of TV movies are evident. While the sets have a certain handcrafted charm, they also look undeniably… well, like sets. The effects are pure 1986 television – think basic compositing and practical creature costumes that might have looked impressive on a fuzzy CRT screen but reveal their charming limitations today. The musical numbers, with lyrics often feeling shoehorned in, feature that distinctly 80s synth-pop sound that feels both dated and oddly endearing now. Remember the "Toyland Rap"? Yeah, that happened. It wasn't exactly a ratings juggernaut nor a critical darling upon release, often overshadowed by its cinematic predecessors, but it clearly found its audience on home video and syndicated reruns.
### That Unmistakable 80s TV Movie Sheen
Watching this Babes in Toyland today is like opening a time capsule filled with shoulder pads, synthesized orchestrations, and a very specific brand of earnest storytelling common in mid-80s family entertainment. There’s a certain naivete to it, a willingness to embrace the silliness that feels quite different from the more polished (or cynical) productions of later decades. Does it always work? Absolutely not. Some scenes are genuinely bizarre, the pacing can drag, and the tonal shifts between whimsical fantasy and slightly creepy villainy are jarring.
Yet, there’s an undeniable nostalgic pull, especially if you caught this during its original run or on a worn-out VHS tape rented from the local video store. It represents a particular moment in television history, an attempt to create holiday magic on a network budget, starring a beloved child star and featuring future A-listers in surprising roles. It's easy to poke fun at the dated effects or the sometimes wooden acting, but there's also a core of sincerity that’s hard to completely dismiss. It tried, bless its cotton socks.
### A Flawed Gem in the VHS Rough
So, is the 1986 Babes in Toyland a misunderstood classic? Probably not. Is it a fascinating, often baffling, but ultimately endearing piece of 80s pop culture ephemera? Absolutely. It’s the kind of movie that sparks recognition – "Oh yeah, the weird one with Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves!" It’s undeniably flawed, often cheesy, and occasionally just plain strange. But beneath the questionable costume choices and synth score, there’s a flicker of the holiday spirit it was trying so hard to capture.
Rating: 5/10
Justification: This score reflects the film's significant flaws – the uneven tone, dated production values, and often campy performances. However, it also acknowledges the nostalgic charm, the earnest effort (especially from Barrymore), the unintentional humor, and its status as a memorable, if bizarre, artifact of 80s television history. It's far from perfect, but for those who remember it, it holds a certain quirky affection.
It may not be the definitive Babes in Toyland, but for a generation who grew up with rabbit-ear antennas and the comforting whir of a VCR, this version remains a curious footnote in the annals of holiday entertainment – a truly unique trip back to a very specific kind of Toyland.