This 46%-Rated Animated Comedy Flopped With Critics but Won Over Social Media – and We Get It

In the world of animated movies, some captivate critics at first glance, garner awards, and become classics. Others are met with lukewarm reviews, but become unexpected hits with viewers.

Hoodwinked was once panned by critics for its poor graphics, however, over the years, this animated gem has not only survived, but also found a new life thanks to social media.

What Is 'Hoodwinked' About?

At first, the plot seems painfully familiar: Little Red Riding Hood arrives at her grandmother's house only to find the wolf in her bed, ready to eat her.

Suddenly, Granny tumbles out of the closet, a woodcutter bursts through the window screaming, and the entire group is captured by the police. This is where the familiar tale ends and something completely different begins.

Detective Nicky Flippers investigates this complex case, suspecting that these events are connected to the Goody Bandit terrorizing the forest.

'Hoodwinked' Is a Witty and Postmodern Detective Story in the Spirit of 'Rashomon'

The main strength of Hoodwinked lies in its bold script experiment. The creators reimagined a classic children's fairy tale in the spirit of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon, in which the same story is told from different perspectives.

This technique, typically used in serious films, is surprisingly effective in a family-friendly animation. Behind its apparent simplicity lies an intellectual challenge for viewers: we must constantly analyze and compare facts to find the truth in contradictory testimony.

At the same time, Hoodwinked never turns into a boring courtroom drama. On the contrary, each new version of events is presented with such humor and self-irony that it's impossible not to laugh.

This postmodern approach connects Hoodwinked with Shrek, which also reimagined familiar fairy tales. However, the references here go even further: Detective Flippers is clearly based on Hercule Poirot, and there are references to the most unexpected movies.

Hoodwinked is a rare case in which the content far exceeds the form, to the point that critics failed to recognize its value.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Hoodwinked'?

• Hoodwinked has 46% from critics and 56% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.5/10.

• On Letterboxd, Hoodwinked scored 3.5/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Hoodwinked'?

Hoodwinked is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.