Burny Mattinson

The Rescuers Review

OK

I'm sorry, but The Rescuers simply can't cut it as an animated classic. It's barely even an also-ran, though the superiority of its sequel, The Rescuers Down Under, makes it worth a look for completists. (Most notable is the fact that troublemaking animators inserted a nude woman into a fleeting shot as the mice are flying through the town -- alas, it's been excised from the new DVD release.)

The story is classic Disney, which is to say, it's pretty typical and lacking any real surprise. The Rescuers are a group of mice working out of the United Nations. They pledge to help anyone in need, and when a "HELP" message-in-a-bottle washes up, the mice send two of their group to the rescue. Why they pick the prissy Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor) and accident-prone city mouse Mr. Bernard (Bob Newhart) is a bit of a mystery.

Continue reading: The Rescuers Review

The Great Mouse Detective Review

By Christopher Null

Good

A lesser-known entry in the world of Disney animation -- but an endearing one nonetheless -- The Great Mouse Detective is based on the children's book Basil of Baker Street, in turn a kid-ification of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, with a hyperintelligent mouse investigating crime in London.

At 72 minutes in length, it's a quick hop, skip, and jump across London, from a toy store to a pub to Big Ben, while Basil searches for poor Olivia's kidnapped father. The crook: Ratigan, voiced masterfully and inimitably by Vincent Price. With appropriately vintage, late-1800s period music and sets, the movie may not offer children the goofy stimulation of a Shrek or a Toy Story, but it's harmless enough that any kid ought to be entertained for the full running time -- even if the movie's hero is a bit too stuffy to relate to.

Continue reading: The Great Mouse Detective Review

The Great Mouse Detective Review

By Christopher Null

Good

A lesser-known entry in the world of Disney animation -- but an endearing one nonetheless -- The Great Mouse Detective is based on the children's book Basil of Baker Street, in turn a kid-ification of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, with a hyperintelligent mouse investigating crime in London.

At 72 minutes in length, it's a quick hop, skip, and jump across London, from a toy store to a pub to Big Ben, while Basil searches for poor Olivia's kidnapped father. The crook: Ratigan, voiced masterfully and inimitably by Vincent Price. With appropriately vintage, late-1800s period music and sets, the movie may not offer children the goofy stimulation of a Shrek or a Toy Story, but it's harmless enough that any kid ought to be entertained for the full running time -- even if the movie's hero is a bit too stuffy to relate to.

Continue reading: The Great Mouse Detective Review

The Rescuers Review

By Christopher Null

OK

I'm sorry, but The Rescuers simply can't cut it as an animated classic. It's barely even an also-ran, though the superiority of its sequel, The Rescuers Down Under, makes it worth a look for completists. (Most notable is the fact that troublemaking animators inserted a nude woman into a fleeting shot as the mice are flying through the town -- alas, it's been excised from the new DVD release.)

The story is classic Disney, which is to say, it's pretty typical and lacking any real surprise. The Rescuers are a group of mice working out of the United Nations. They pledge to help anyone in need, and when a "HELP" message-in-a-bottle washes up, the mice send two of their group to the rescue. Why they pick the prissy Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor) and accident-prone city mouse Mr. Bernard (Bob Newhart) is a bit of a mystery.

Continue reading: The Rescuers Review