"Hoodwinked!" is a clever American animated comedy directed by Cory Edwards, released in 2005. Co-written by Edwards, Todd Edwards, and Tony Leech, this irreverent retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood" flips the fairy tale on its head, unraveling a whodunit packed with humor and unexpected twists.
The story kicks off at the end of the classic tale, with chaos erupting at Granny’s cottage: Red Riding Hood (voiced by Anne Hathaway) unleashes martial arts moves, a snarky Wolf (Patrick Warburton) stirs trouble, a dim-witted Woodsman (Jim Belushi) crashes in, and Granny (Glenn Close) hides her own secrets. Enter Chief Grizzly (Xzibit) and Detective Bill Stork (Anthony Anderson), who dig into the domestic disturbance, interrogating the quirky cast. Through hilarious flashbacks, the film reveals a confectionery crime spree tied to a recipe-stealing villain disrupting the forest’s fairy-tale harmony.
Known for its playful animation—deliberately low-budget yet charming—and a zippy soundtrack featuring original songs, "Hoodwinked!" thrives on sharp dialogue and a standout voice cast, including Tara Strong as a hyperactive squirrel. Its Rashomon-style storytelling keeps audiences guessing, poking fun at fable tropes with gleeful abandon.
Released in 2005, "Hoodwinked!" overcame a modest debut to become a sleeper hit, spawning a sequel and winning over families with its offbeat charm. A fresh spin on a timeless tale, it’s a delightfully subversive romp that proves every story has more than one side.
