SMILE FOR AUNTIE

Here as in Eat! (1975), Paterson hits us with a child's view of a benign but pushy adult forcing herself with suffocating persistence. Viewers will be overwhelmed along with baby by schleppy page-sized Auntie, best described as an ugly dumpling, who makes faces, stands on her head, tickles, offers kisses and ice cream, and variously contorts herself in a vain attempt to get the baby to smile. Only after Auntie gives up and goes away does the baby come through with the desired response. This high-impact demonstration, though, should get a smile out of almost anyone--and it's an insensitive Auntie who won't think twice.