THE ADVENTURES OF RAGTIME (1998)
“The Adventures of Ragtime,” a 1998 family comedy directed by William Byron Hillman, centers on Ragtime, a clever miniature horse beloved by the Blue family in suburban California. The story follows young Barclay (Justin Cooper), his siblings Amy (Ashley Cafagna) and Carter (Max Tromberg), and their parents (Perry King, Cheryl Ladd), whose lives upend when bumbling crooks Sam (Jay Thomas) and Lester (Shelley Long) kidnap Ragtime and the family collie, Taylor, for ransom. Seeing Ragtime’s TV fame, the duo—donning wigs and fake accents—think he’s their ticket to riches, unaware of his knack for chaos.
The plot unfolds with “Home Alone”-style antics as Ragtime outsmarts his captors, tripping them with ropes and dousing them with flour in a dilapidated hideout. Barclay, an eight-year-old with spunk, teams with Taylor to track Ragtime, sparking sibling squabbles—like a bathroom tussle and a prank dousing Carter with water—that add slapstick charm. The family’s lawyer dad, juggling work stress, calls in an absurdly large FBI team, who bumble through the case, unaware they’re chasing a horse and dog. Sam and Lester’s dimwitted schemes—like mailing a ransom note with typos—crumble as Ragtime’s tricks leave them battered and eager for arrest.
Shot on a modest budget, the film leans on Long and Thomas’ comedic chops, though critics note their wigs and accents grate. The animals steal scenes, with Ragtime’s dubbed “voice” (a surprise to the cast) adding quirky humor. The climax sees Barclay reunite with Ragtime, foiling the crooks in a barn showdown, restoring family harmony. Despite a 3.7 IMDb rating and flak for its thin plot, the film’s goofy energy and kid-friendly gags—like a poop prank—make it a cult oddity. Retitled “Barclay’s Big Adventure,” it’s a nostalgic, low-stakes romp for ’90s family flick fans.
