We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story (1993)
Simon Wells, the great-grandson of H.G. Wells, directed this film about time-travelling dinosaurs. He also directed An American Tale: Fievel Goes West (1991), Balto (1995), and The Prince of Egypt (1998).
Based on a children’s book, this schizophrenic film can’t decide if it wants to be a movie about dinosaurs, a movie about time travel, or a movie about making your own destiny.
Much like Billy Pilgrim, the dinosaurs were brought to the future so children could see live dinosaurs on display. Once they’ve arrived, they’re given “Brain Grain” to increase their intelligence.
Intelligent dinosaurs in Manhattan is rife with logistical problems, and for some reason, there’s an evil scientist trying to revert them back to their original state and imprison them in a circus.
The dinosaurs are given a choice: the benign prison of the Natural History Musuem, or the more oppressive prison of the circus.
The top notch voice cast features John Goodman, Yeardley Smith, Walter Cronkite, Jay Leno, Martin Short, Rhea Pearlman, Larry King and Julia Child. John Malkovich was supposed to take part in the film, but backed out because of “creative differences.” Having seen the finished product, he made the right decision.
To discover an animated movie with Julia Child, Walter Cronkite, and Jay Leno exists makes me smile; watching the finished product makes me cry.