Madeline

(TriStar)

Director Daisy von Scherler Mayer remains true to the droll details of Ludwig Bemelmans's classic picture books, newcomer Hatty Jones makes a sunny, insouciant Madeline, and dimpled Frances McDormand plays wimpled Miss Clavel with spunk. Shot on location in Paris, the film cobbles together four Bemelmans favorites to allow Madeline beaucoup adventures. Still, the patchwork plot has a harried, episodic feel, and some of the gags lack the European flavor of the original works.