In a Patch of Grass
David Antenborough narrates this picture-book send-up of a nature documentary, sounding just like the real-life David but with six limbs for his trademark gesticulations. Director Steven Spielbug tries to keep the cast of characters on task, but it’s worse than herding cats: The orb-weaving spider would like to eat one or two other actors; the grasshopper is a diva; the worm is too busy munching dirt to emerge from the ground on cue; the robin has called in sick and fails to show up for the predation scene; and the slug is too embarrassed by his slime to perform. Then filming is interrupted by a wuffling noise and a foul-smelling hurricane as Fido the dog sniffs his way through the grass and onto the set. The panicked actors flee at top speed (which is not very fast in the slug’s case), but the intrepid Antenborough continues narrating, Spielbug keeps directing, and they bring the film to a dramatic conclusion. Despite the chaos—or maybe because of it—we learn some things about these animals, and the backmatter gives more nature facts. But the main object is pure fun.