Babes in Toyland (1986)

It's Xmas eve in Cincinnati, but eleven-year-old Lisa (Drew Barrymore) isn't feeling the seasonal spirit. I kind of respected her at that stage, but the film is about recapturing it, so something had to give. In Wizard of Oz style she wakes in Toyland, wherein people from her real life take on roles in the new world, including her sister's sleazy boss and his employee Keanu.
The world is populated by story folk, which means man-size teddy bears and simpletons with the intelligence of chocolate chip cookies. But Pat Morita, too, which was a surprise. Will Lisa stop the rotten Barnaby (Richard Mulligan) from ruling Toyland and find in her heart not just the true spirit of Xmas but the importance of embracing childhood, too? Is there even any doubt?

2 flower cars out of 5