This week's movie reviews include "Home on the Range," and "Walking Tall."

Home on the Range
A trio of cranky cows must band together to save their beloved dairy farm from being put on the block in the rip-roaring animated family feature "Home on the Range" (Disney). Writers-directors Will Finn and John Sanford turn the traditional western on its horns in telling a rootin'-tootin' cowboy yarn from the other end of the branding iron, resulting in a barnyard full of fun for moo-viegoers of all ages.

The story centers on Maggie (voiced by Roseanne Barr), a brassy prize cow sold into the cozy confines of the appropriately named "Patch of Heaven" dairy farm, owned by a kindly old homesteader named Pearl. The new-cow-on-the-block's rowdy manner causes the farm's prim and proper British heifer, Mrs. Caloway (voiced by Judi Dench), to practically choke on her cud. But, while Maggie's arrival ruffles some feathers -- literally -- and gets the goat of a cantankerous old goat named Jeb (voiced by Joe Flaherty), the stir is overshadowed by a visit from Sheriff Brown (voiced by Richard Riehle), who regretfully informs Pearl that "Patch of Heaven" is set to be auctioned in three days unless she ponies up $750 in arrears.

With no way of paying, Pearl resigns herself to selling off her farm. But Maggie is one cow who doesn't kowtow. She proposes to her barnyard buddies that they try to raise the money themselves. Accompanied by a reluctant Mrs. Caloway and a ditzy cow named Grace (voiced by Jennifer Tilly), Maggie sets out to capture Alameda Slim (voiced by Randy Quaid), a notorious cattle rustler with a $750 bounty on his head.

It is later revealed that Slim, disguised as a wealthy land baron, is using the money he makes off the stolen livestock to buy up all the foreclosed farms. With the desperado's sights set on "Patch of Heaven," the bickering bovines must put aside their personal beefs and work together to prevent an udder cow-tastrophe.

Helping steer them in the right direction is Lucky Jack (voiced by Charles Haid), a jackrabbit of all trades, and Buck (voiced by Cuba Gooding Jr.), a hyperheroic horse.

While Pixar partisans continue to pen obituaries for traditional animation, "Home on the Range" proves that there is still a place for hand-drawn films. With visuals clearly inspired by classic Western iconography, the movie boasts luscious big-sky backdrops exploding with vibrant mesa hues.

Unfortunately, eight-time Academy Award-winning songwriter Alan Menken's tumbleweed score falls short of his previous Disney collaborations, such as "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin." However, the film does contain several whistle-worthy songs, including the title rawhide romp "(You Ain't) Home on the Range" and "Yodle-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo," a psychedelic hoedown reminiscent of "Pink Elephants on Parade" from "Dumbo."

Laced with enough comic wit to keep older cowpokes from sleeping in the saddle, the film, while lacking the character development and mythic scope of "The Lion King," imparts a positive message about teamwork and camaraderie. For pure fun, there's hardly a discouraging word to be heard about this "Home on the Range."

Due to some brief mild rude humor and innuendo, as well as some cartoon violence, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

Walking Tall
A retired soldier wages a lone-wolf crusade against the crime and corruption that has overrun his home town in the violent, vigilante-themed "Walking Tall" (MGM).

Directed by Kevin Bray, the movie -- a remake of the 1973 cult classic of the same title -- is loosely based on the exploits of legendary Tennessee lawman Buford Pusser.

Transplanting the setting from Tennessee to the Pacific Northwest, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson speaks softly and carries a big stick -- literally -- as Chris Vaughn, a decorated Special Forces commando, who returns home to find that his boyhood community has become sin city.

With the local mill closed, the only employment in town is now a sleazy casino/strip club run by Vaughn's high school rival, Jay Hamilton (Neal McDonough). As if that weren't bad enough, Vaughn's ex-sweetheart (Ashley Scott) works as a pole dancer there. Having the local tin star (Michael Bowen) on his payroll assures Hamilton criminal carte blanche.

During a welcome home party at the den of iniquity -- compliments of Hamilton -- Vaughn spies a croupier using weighted dice at the craps table. Things get ugly fast and a huge brawl erupts. Though a potent fighting machine, Vaughn is outnumbered, beaten to within an inch of his life, carved up like a turkey and left for dead. But, as is usually the case with these Timex types, he takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin'.

Finding himself facing criminal charges for assault and destruction of property, Vaughn pleads his own case, telling the jury directly, that, if acquitted, he will run for sheriff and bring law and order back to the town -- which is exactly what happens.

From this point on, the film proceeds pretty much on anger-management autopilot. Wielding a caveman-caliber club with which he pummels anything in his path, Vaughn launches a one-man war to shut down Hamilton's crooked operation and stem the toxic tide of drugs flowing out of the gambling parlor.

Carrying the film on his barn-door shoulders, Johnson's charismatic presence elevates moments of "Walking Tall" above the cookie-cutter carnage that pads much of its compact 86 minutes. Usually these types of roles come with only two settings -- sulk and smash. But, while he does much of both, Johnson's appealing blend of virility and vulnerability also allows for some attempts at sensitivity and, dare one say, humanity.

However, while the story makes pretensions of a strong moral sense of right and wrong, any conclusions about justice are lost in the sickening din of ammo and crushed bones. Like the heroes of countless old Westerns, Vaughn is an honorable man who stands up for what he perceives as a righteous cause, but the brutal line-crossing means he employs seem to promote the message that, ultimately, violence is the best course of action for fighting injustice. Even Vaughn's Gandhi-like father (John Beasley) eventually sees the futility of his pacifist ways and takes up the sword.

Due to recurring violence, an implied sexual encounter, drug content, a striptease scene, crude language and humor, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

David DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.