The Little Red Truck

Parents eager to venture outside the animation or talking-Chihuahua boxes for family entertainment should check out Rob Whitehair's documentary "The Little Red Truck," an inspiring look at a diverse array of youngsters introduced to the joys of stage performing.
The invaluable notion that artistic endeavor can boost a child's self-esteem forms the heart of the film as it follows 250 kids spread among five varied communities -- from Hollywood to Rankin Inlet, Canada -- who stage one-hour musicals in six swift days when the venerable Missoula Children's Theatre comes to town in its little red truck (hence the title).
Whitehair deftly condenses the breakneck audition, rehearsal and performance processes into enjoyable bites, rotating among each local group of tykes and tweens, their visiting actor-directors and such kid-friendly productions as "The Frog Prince" and "The Little Mermaid." Unfortunately, covering so much so quickly limits our intimacy with the individual children or the super-dedicated, amusingly "theatrical" Missoulans who guide their efforts. The movie also lacks the tension of more contest-based youth documentaries such as "Spellbound" and "Mad Hot Ballroom." No matter, "The Little Red Truck" is a cheerful diversion that, if it motivates even a handful of budding thespians, will have done its job.
Da The Los Angeles Times, 10 ottobre 2008