Today’s quick review: An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster. Fievel Mousekewitz (Thomas Dekker), a young mouse living in Manhattan, tags along with Nellie Brie (Susan Boyd), an intrepid journalist, to get to the bottom of a series of supposed monster attacks that have been plaguing the city. Their investigation eventually leads them to Madame Mousey (Candi Milo), a fortune-telling poodle who has been profiting from the attacks.
An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster is an animated family adventure and the fourth film in the American Tail series. The Mystery of the Night Monster takes on the heyday of American journalism, with Fievel getting to experience a dangerous investigation firsthand. The historical setting and journalistic themes of the movie give it some potential, but a shallow story and mediocre production values keep it from doing much with its chance.
The Mystery of the Night Monster lands in the same awkward position as the other American Tail sequels. Without the clear hook of a young mouse coming to America, the movie has to cobble together a story out of disparate parts. The newspaper angle helps, but Fievel does not have an important role to play in the story, and there is no real personal angle for him. The result is a story that has a hard time drawing in the audience.
Like its predecessors, An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster will appeal most to younger audiences looking for some colorful adventure. It serves as a passable iteration on the characters of the first movie, and the newspaper angle gives it a unique identity within the series. But the movie has none of the depth, the craftsmanship, or the charm needed to compete with other animated features, making it a miss for most viewers.
For an American Tail sequel of similar caliber, try The Treasure of Manhattan Island. For an animated musical about New York with an animal cast, try Oliver & Company. For a classic romance about a bold journalist and her sensationalistic editor, try His Girl Friday.
[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0197230/). I give it the same for a decent setup with unexceptional execution.