- Story
Interrupted during a seasonal bout of white-washing,
Mole (STEVE COOGAN) is clueless as to why his cosy underground
home is literally crumbling about his ears. Knocked from his
stepladder by the earthly trembles, Mole beats a hasty retreat
overground and in the dazzling sunlight he stumbles towards the
riverbank to encounter the affable Rat (Eric Idle).
Being the chipper, decent fellow that he is, Rat quickly takes stock of the situation. He packs a picnic, straightens his whiskers and persuades Mole to join him in a boating expedition up the river to discover if the rambunctious Mr. Toad (TERRY JONES) has any ideas. After all, there's nothing quite like messing about on the river…
At Toad Hall, Rat and Mole are greeted with excitement.
Toad has just bought himself a canary-coloured gypsy caravan
and can't wait for them all to take to the dusty track. However,
Toad's enthusiasm for the new toy plummets when his passions are
instead flagrantly ignited during a violent encounter with the
latest technological breakthrough -- the motorcar. 
An unashamed spendthrift and a reckless driver, Toad has soon written off half a dozen motorcars. Seeking his paternalistic wisdom, Rat and Mole bring Badger (NICOL WILLIAMSON) out of cosy hibernation and he fervently lectures Toad about his misdemeanors. However, Toad's passion for motorcars is relentless and he soon finds himself in serious trouble, in the dock of the High Court. Insolent towards the Judge (STEPHEN FRY) and dismissed by his own Defense Lawyer (JOHN CLEESE) as a hopeless cause, Toad is sentenced to 100 years.
Meanwhile, the wind may blow through the bull-reeds and ripple the whispering waters, but riverbank life is far from tranquil. For beyond the water's edge lies the threatening Wild Wood and its menacing pack of dwellers: the entrepreneurial Chief Weasel (ANTONY SHER) and his speculating cohorts, out to make a fast buck by building a Dog Food Factory on the very meadow sold to them by Toad himself. Determined to rule the riverbank, the Weasels now scheme their next plan, to take over and re-develop Toad Hall, the finest house on the river.
It's crucial that Toad escapes from prison and saves
his ancestral home from the clutches of the Wily Weasels. The
Jailer's Daughter (JULIA SAWALHA) and the Tea-Lady (VICTORIA WOOD)
settle for a trade-off and Toad steps out to freedom in a corset.
With the law in hot pursuit, Toad and his loyal companions fend
off their pursuers in a high speed steam train chase which culminates
in yet another grim encounter with the Weasels -- at the monstrous
Dog Food Factory. There among the crude conveyors, suspended
meat hooks and awesome mincing machines our heroes must hang on
if they are to make their escape. Meanwhile, the opportunist
and somewhat inebriated Weasels, their corporate insignia strapped
to their sleeves, creating anarchy at the usurped Toad Hall, orchestrate
their grand finale. But aren't these celebrations just a little
premature? Who invited the gatecrashers? The Riverbankers and
Toad Hall might still be saved ...
The film is available on video under the title of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride."