The reason to check out the Little Red Riding Hood episode of Faerie Tale Theatre is not a) the 'revised' story, which puffs up ten pages with so-called feminist phooey and a bit involving rocks in a stomach', or b) much of the acting, save maybe for John Vernon aside from the obvious. No, the real reason to check it out is Malcolm McDowell, who gives some kind of crazy performance, sometimes campy and sometimes just McDowell-esquire, as he turns into this classic character as only he could. In fact, he makes certain scenes with his weaker co-star Mary Steenburgen better than they have any right to be (albeit nothing can save the always tired "Granny, what big... you have" bit), as he moves along with fun and verve and a real knack for what the series at its best can be about. But sadly a lot of the episode is just drivel to make up for what is, essentially, a super-short parable that changes from PG to R rating depending on who's telling it (i.e. eating Granny &/or Riding Hood &/or chopping the wolf with axe).