Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader), an aspiring inventor, hits it big when he invents a machine that makes food rain from the sky. Sam Sparks (Anna Faris), a rookie weathergirl, jumps on the story and turns Flint’s invention into a popular sensation. But when the Mayor (Bruce Campbell) convinces Flint to crank his machine into overdrive, it threatens to bury the town beneath a storm of giant food.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an animated family disaster comedy about a food machine run amok. Once an outcast for his failed inventions, Flint finds himself a celebrity when one of his machines actually works. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an adventure that’s packed with over-the-top comedy and colorful characters. The movie scores points for its humor and creative plot, but it can be hard to connect with at an emotional level.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs goes places that no other movie can. The plot is a flight of fancy that kicks logic to the curb and lets imagination run free. Flint’s world is filled with off-the-wall gadgets, super-strong cops (Mr. T), aging child mascots (Andy Samberg), and gullible townsfolk, fueling a unique mixture of food jokes, cartoonish slapstick, and mock-epic situations.

The drawback of all this creativity is that the movie can be a little too much to handle. Even ignoring its outlandish premise, the movie goes out of its way to be ridiculous. Countless jokes clamor for the viewer’s attention, and while many of them hit the mark, the ones that miss miss in a big way. It doesn’t help that the most grounded subplots—Flint’s relationships with Sam and with his father (James Caan)—are also played for laughs.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an entertaining romp that takes full advantage of an original premise. Its absurd writing and manic style of humor will put off some viewers, but anyone willing to roll with the punches will find that it has a lot to offer in the way of comedy. Anyone looking for a more grounded, emotionally resonant family comedy should approach with caution.

For an animated spy action comedy about an unconventional inventor, try Spies in Disguise. For another hyperactive family comedy from the same directors, try The Lego Movie. For another animated family comedy with plenty of mad science, try Megamind, Meet the Robinsons, or Mr. Peabody & Sherman. For a somewhat weaker family disaster comedy with a father-son relationship, try Chicken Little.

[6.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844471/). I give it a 7.0 for quirky fun that may be too far out for some viewers.

Today’s quick review: The Tale of Despereaux. Despereaux (Matthew Broderick), a brave little mouse, gets his chance to become a knight when he meets Princess Pea (Emma Watson), whose kingdom has fallen into despair following a tragic accident. Despereaux embarks on a bold quest to lift the princess’ spirits. By a stroke of luck, he meets just the person who can help: Roscuro (Dustin Hoffman), the rat who was responsible for the accident.

The Tale of Despereaux is an animated family fantasy adventure about a mouse with gallant ideals. The Tale of Despereaux puts a new spin on classic storybook themes, replacing the knight in shining armor with a humbler protagonist. The movie features likable characters, a cozy story, an intricate plot, and a cast of familiar voices. However, some odd choices when it comes to story structure make the movie hit-or-miss.

The Tale of Despereaux takes a different approach than other tales of chivalry. Rather than a central conflict with a clear villain, it has a winding plot that connects the plights of several different characters. Despereaux enters their lives like the pebble that kicks off an avalanche, causing just a few changes that set many new events in motion. Along the way, he awakens a noble spirit in nearly everyone he meets.

The upshot of this approach is that it is not just a linear journey to confront a villain. The plot requires several important pieces to function, and one of the great payoffs of the movie is seeing how they come together. This structure also means getting to know a broad cast of characters, who earn the audience’s affection bit by bit. Throughout it all, Sigourney Weaver’s excellent narration serves to keep the story on track.

The downside of this approach is that it is indirect. Rather than setting the stage and diving into the meat of the story, The Tale of Despereaux takes its time to introduce the characters, let them play out their individual stories for a while, and only then inch towards the main conflict. In addition to the slow start, the characters are fairly passive. Even Despereaux himself is more of a pawn of fate than a hero in his own right.

The Tale of Despereaux has a very peculiar sort of appeal. It is a love letter to tales of chivalry, and it takes pains to make sure its characters are all loved and respected. At the same time, its unusual story structure and low stakes can make it a hard movie to get into. Fans of optimistic stories and quaint adventures will get what they want out of the movie. Those looking for a story with a stronger backbone may want to steer clear.

For a more even-footed storybook adventure, try Tangled. For an animated comedy about a rodent with big dreams, try Ratatouille. For a musical about a would-be knight, try The Man of La Mancha. For a more irreverent take on storybook heroism, try Shrek.

[6.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420238/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for storybook charm in a hit-or-miss style.

Today’s quick review: An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island. Fievel Mousekewitz (Thomas Dekker), a young immigrant to America, finds a way to help his overworked father (Nehemiah Persoff) when he stumbles upon a map to buried treasure. With Dr. Dithering (Rene Auberjonois) and his friends Tony (Pat Musick) and Tiger (Dom DeLuise) in tow, Fievel journeys into an ancient tunnel system beneath Manhattan to find out what the treasure is.

An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island is an animated family adventure and the third film in the American Tail series. Against the backdrop of 1880s New York, a bold young mouse and his loyal friends set out to unearth a long-buried secret. The Treasure of Manhattan Island is a serviceable adventure with a bit of action, a bit of comedy, and a splash of American history, but it is missing the heartfelt charm of the original.

The Treasure of Manhattan Island shares some of the same weaknesses as Fievel Goes West, the previous American Tail sequel. The cartoonish aspects of Fievel’s world are exaggerated, while the historical elements are diluted. The Treasure of Manhattan Island plays things a little safer than Fievel Goes West, reverting to a New York setting and touching on the plight of recent immigrants, but it still relies on cheap thrills and contrived twists.

An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island is a fine pick for younger audiences. The characters are charming enough, and the adventure is a cross between classic treasure hunting and finding new friends in unlikely places. But there is not much depth to the story, and it’s missing both the emotional power of the first American Tail film and the memorable villain of the second. Approach with caution.

For a more robust adventure with a more focused plot, try the Indiana Jones movies. For a more rewarding family-friendly treasure hunt, try Treasure Planet or Muppet Treasure Island. For a kids’ movie about meeting an unexpected friend, try E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

[5.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166973/). I give it a 6.0 for a kid-friendly adventure without much substance.

Today’s quick review: An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. Fleeing the hard living and cat violence of New York, Fievel Mousekewitz (Phillip Glasser) and his family (Nehemiah Persoff, Erica Yohn, and Cathy Cavadini) move to the dusty Western town of Green River. But when Fievel learns that Cat R. Waul (John Cleese) is planning to eat the mice, he recruits his feline friend Tiger (Dom DeLuise) and Sheriff Wylie Burp (James Stewart) to save the day.

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is an animated family Western adventure. The sequel to An American Tail sees the Mousekewitz family take a journey farther west, this time falling for a scam from a manipulative cat. The Western setting works well for a family adventure, and the movie benefits from a talented voice cast. However, weak themes and a haphazard story make the movie a step down from the original.

Fievel Goes West has a strange relationship with its predecessor. The story hits many of the same beats as the first movie, including the Mousekewitz family fleeing from oppression, cats using deception to take advantage of mice, and Fievel getting separated from his family. Yet at the same time, the movie tears down almost everything that was accomplished in the original, replacing it with a cheap plot and vague notions of adventure.

Taken on its own terms, Fievel Goes West is still somewhat shaky. There is no single idea to unify the story, which instead is a patchwork of ideas from the first movie, Fievel getting to be the hero he wants to be, and the overly comedic misadventures of Tiger. Some segments of the movie are fine, and John Cleese’s performance as the genteel villain Cat R. Waul adds a lot, but ultimately the movie is a little too reliant on gimmicks and goofy humor.

How much you get out of An American Tail: Fievel Goes West will depend on your expectations. Those hoping for an insightful historical movie with the drama of the original American Tail will be disappointed. Those looking for a colorful, family-friendly adventure will have fun. Not every fan of the original should check out Fievel Goes West, but fans who are curious and are willing to not take it too seriously may want to give it a shot.

For a much less faithful sequel to a Don Bluth film, check out The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue. For a richer animated Western comedy, try Rango. For a more inventive mouse adventure, try The Rescuers or The Rescuers Down Under.

[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101329/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for flashes of fun embedded in a mediocre story.

Today’s quick review: An American Tail. Fievel Mousekewitz (Phillip Glasser) and his family (Nehemiah Persoff, Erica Yohn, and Amy Green) leave their home in Russia and immigrate to America, hoping for a fresh start. But on the way over, Fievel is separated from his family. Arriving in New York on his own, Fievel must navigate a new world of danger and opportunity to have any hope of finding his family.

An American Tail is a family animated historical adventure directed by Don Bluth. An American Tail tells the story of a family of mice immigrating to America in the 1880s, facing hardship and turmoil to realize the promise of a better life. The movie creates a richly detailed world and uses it to portray the highs and lows of the immigration process, as well as telling a heartfelt story about a little mouse who has lost his way.

An American Tail succeeds largely on the strength of its premise. The Mousekewitz family’s journey to America lets the movie tap into some resonant themes about immigration, freedom, and the struggle to live. Meanwhile, the small-scale version of New York offers a creative setting for Fievel’s journey. The movie also hits some strong emotional notes as Fievel is separated from his family and faced with a harsher reality than he was promised.

There are a few features of the movie that will put off some viewers. Fievel is less mature than the average protagonist of a family film, and his poor judgement constantly gets him into trouble. This dynamic works well enough for the story, but it can be frustrating for the audience. The world itself is noisy and messy, filled with exaggerated caricatures, extreme dangers, and half-baked coincidences that may rub some viewers the wrong way.

How much you get out of An American Tail will come down to taste, but there is plenty to appeal to the right viewer. Fans of Don Bluth’s style will find An American Tail to be a solid addition to his work, while more general audiences will appreciate the movie’s fusion of the realistic and the fantastic. Not everyone will like what An American Tail has to offer, but anyone curious should at least give it a try.

For an even more serious animated family film from Don Bluth starring mice, check out The Secret of NIMH. For a modern love letter to New York, try Oliver & Company. For a mature, violent crime drama portraying the lives of immigrants in historical New York City, try Gangs of New York.

[6.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090633/). I give it a 7.0 for rich animation and a moving story.

Today’s quick review: Oliver & Company. Oliver (Joey Lawrence), an abandoned kitten living on the streets of New York, finds a new home when he meets Dodger (Billy Joel), a street-smart dog who leads a pack of strays. Dodger teaches Oliver how to steal to help out Fagin (Dom DeLuise), a homeless man who takes care of the strays. But trouble strikes when Mr. Sykes (Robert Loggia), a ruthless loan shark, comes to collect the money Fagin owes him.

Oliver & Company is an animated family adventure loosely based on Oliver Twist. Oliver & Company follows a young kitten as he searches for a home on the tough streets of New York. The movie features a colorful cast, a catchy soundtrack, and an unusally serious plot for a family film, although it is still fundamentally a comedy. Oliver & Company is a fun watch that is easy to overlook, but its character work is a step down from Disney’s best.

Oliver & Company gets its appeal from a variety of different sources. Dodger makes a strong impression as a wily, charismatic dog, and his pack quickly establishes itself as an offbeat but utterly loyal family. Mr. Sykes stands out as one of the more menacing, realistic villains to come out of Disney. The story also has some heart as Oliver is torn between his new friends and Jenny (Natalie Gregory), a rich little girl who finds him on the street.

The one real weakness of the movie is that its characters miss the mark. Oliver is overshadowed by his friends and never gets the chance to really prove himself. Dutch is a cheat, a thief, and occasionally a bully, although he remains loyal to Oliver once he warms up to the kitten. While Fagin is sympathetic, his criminal tendencies and poor decisions undercut the goodwill he builds. In general, the cast is easy to like but hard to love.

Oliver & Company is an oddity but an enjoyable one. It has the usual mixture of music, comedy, and heart, but its conflicts are somewhat more mature than the usual kids’ fare. At the same time, it has a harder time figuring out a clear arc for it main character and balancing the virtues and vices of its supporting cast. The result is a nice treat for fans of Disney’s animation, but one that will not resonate as strongly as their best work.

For another heartfelt story about a canine criminal, try All Dogs Go to Heaven. For a different animated adventure about the promise of New York, try An American Tail. For a live-action family comedy that pays tribute to the city, try Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095776/). I give it a 7.0 for a fun story with a few rough edges.

Today’s quick review: The Aristocats. Duchess (Eva Gabor) and her kittens (Dean Clark, Liz English, and Gary Dubin) are the pampered pets of Madame (Hermione Baddeley), a wealthy old woman. When Madame’s butler Edgar (Roddy Maude-Roxby) learns that she is leaving her fortune to her pets, he kidnaps the cats and strands them in the countryside, where Thomas O’Malley (Phil Harris), a smooth-talking alleycat, offers to escort them back to Paris.

The Aristocats is an animated family comedy set in Paris in the early 1900s. The Aristocats follows a family of sheltered cats as they embark on a rough journey to get back home. Lush animation, charming characters, a pleasant story, and a dash of romance make the movie an enjoyable watch. While its charms will not appeal to everyone, the film showcases some of the best aspects of Disney’s classic animated films.

The Aristocats’ talent lies in the way it brings its characters to life. Duchess and her kittens have a playful, nurturing relationship that makes them a joy to watch, while O’Malley’s street savvy is just the thing to guide them through the French countryside. Even the minor characters are given the chance to shine, turning an otherwise ordinary series of animal perils into a journey full of life and excitement.

The Aristocats holds a very specific kind of appeal. Its animation has just the right level of detail to capture the characters in motion, its story is a light adventure with just a touch of danger, and its characters are easy to love. Those looking for a richer story with deeper conflicts and more action may find it a little thin. But those looking for something beautiful and unabashedly optimistic will find it to be a refreshing watch.

For a classic animated adventure featuring the vocal talents of Eva Gabor, try The Rescuers or The Rescuers Down Under. For a modern CGI animated adventure about a lost pet, try Bolt. For one that shows off a different side of Paris, try Ratatouille. For a more serious movie about a rich young woman who gets to see the outside world, try Roman Holiday.

[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065421/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for gorgeous animation and a charming story.

Today’s quick review: Robin Hood. While King Richard is out of the country crusading, his duplicitous brother Prince John (Peter Ustinov) seizes the throne and subjects the people of England to unbearable taxes. Robin Hood (Brian Bedford), an outlaw living in Sherwood Forest, fights this injustice by stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, with the help of his friend Little John (Phil Harris).

Robin Hood is an animated family adventure from Disney that reimagines the classic story with a cast of animals. The wily, cheerful Robin Hood outfoxes his enemies, offers comfort to the downtrodden people of Nottingham, and charms Maid Marian (Monic Evans), the noblewoman he fell in love with years before. The movie blends the spirit of the original tales of Robin Hood with a charm that could only come from animation.

The appeal of Robin Hood comes from the care it puts into its characters and their interactions. It isn’t enough to go through the motions of the story with anthropomorphic animals. Instead, Robin Hood goes the extra mile to ensure that even the smallest characters have their own personalities. The movie has a knack for bringing its characters to life. Even after just a few minute onscreen, each character leaves a clear mark.

The other aspects of the movie are similarly strong. The animation suits the characters perfectly, turning even simple exchanges into impressive bits of comedy, slapstick, and adventure. The dialogue has a nice rhythm to it, but its real strength is in the way it supports the characters. The story is somewhat weaker. It conveys the highlights of the source material, but it’s a thin plot for a feature film and does not always flow very well.

How much you like Robin Hood will ultimately come down to taste, but there is certainly a lot to like. Those who are drawn to charming characters and attentive animation will find Robin Hood to be a joyful watch. Those who are focused a little more on tight plot work and dramatic story arcs may find it a little frivolous. In any case, it is worth checking out for anyone in the mood for something light and spirited.

For an iconic adaptation of the story, try The Adventures of Robin Hood. For a more irreverent take, try Robin Hood: Men in Tights. For a classic musical comedy with a similar plot, try The Court Jester.

[7.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070608/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for charming characters and swashbuckling adventure.

Today’s quick review: Home on the Range. To earn the money to save their farm, Maggie (Roseanne Barr), Mrs. Calloway (Judi Dench), and Grace (Jennifer Tilly), a trio of dairy cows, set out to collect the bounty on Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid), a notorious yodeling cattle rustler. But to catch Slim, the cows will need to beat Buck (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), a horse with delusions of heroism, and Rico (Charles Dennis), a ruthless bounty hunter.

Home on the Range is a family animated Western comedy about three cows on an adventure to save their farm. Using pluck and ingenuity, the unlikely heroes try to get the drop on Slim, whose hypnotic yodeling makes him a danger to every cow within earshot. Home on the Range is a light movie filled with slapstick humor and colorful characters. However, its unusual premise and weak backbone make it a step down from most Disney films.

The highlight of Home on the Range is its light, comedic spirit. Bovine protagonists, barnyard animals, a Wild West setting, and inept villains make the movie a playground for family-friendly cartoon humor. Home on the Range takes advantage of all of these, packing in as many jokes as it can into its short run time. Not all of the jokes are winners, but enough of them hit the mark to make the movie entertaining for the right viewer.

The catch is that Home on the Range rests on a shaky foundation. The premise lacks the clarity that other animated films usually have, and the story can get ridiculous even by the loose standards of the genre. The movie makes a passing attempt at an emotional arc as Maggie, the newcomer on the farm, earns the trust of Mrs. Calloway and Grace, but there isn’t much character development to be had.

The result is a breezy but shallow adventure that requires a significant amount of buy-in from the audience. Home on the Range scores some points with its light, spirited comedy, but its story does not have what it takes to hold the movie together.

How much you get out of the movie will depend on whether you are willing to put up with some absurdity for the sake of a good time. Flexible viewers who enjoy animated adventures for their own sake will find something to enjoy. Those looking for a fulfilling story or masterful animation will find the movie lacking.

For a more elaborate, better-written animated Western comedy, try Rango. For a barnyard comedy with a lot more heart, try Chicken Run.

[5.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299172/). I give it a 6.5 for goofy charm without much substance.

Today’s quick review: The King and I. To help modernize his country, the King of Siam (Martin Vidnovic) sends for Anna Leonowens (Miranda Richardson), an English schoolteacher. Anna sets about teaching the King and his children about life outside their palace. But her efforts are opposed by the Kralahome (Ian Richardson), the King’s treacherous second-in-command, who tries to paint the King as barbaric to gt the British to overthrow him.

The King and I is an animated musical based on the play of the same name. The King and I tells the story of the King of Siam and Anna, two people from different cultures who find common ground. The premise has some potential: a cultural exchange that highlights the tensions between tradition and new ideas in modernizing countries. However, the execution of the premise leaves much to be desired, with none of the tact needed to make the story work.

The King and I suffers from being animated. Animation opens the door to all kinds of distractions that add nothing to the story and only serve to pull focus away from what really matters: the relationship between Anna and the King. Intelligent animal sidekicks, cartoonish slapstick, fanciful action sequences, and annoying supporting characters all undermine the strongest points of the story without offering anything worthwhile in return.

Even without these distractions, The King and I tends to sell itself short. The King is an imperious man torn between centuries of tradition and his desire to do what is best for his people. Rather than play up this dynamic, the movie opts for cheap jokes and comedic quirks that make him hard to take seriously. The musical numbers suffer a similar fate, pleasant songs that are dropped in without preamble and forgotten just as quickly.

The King and I is a movie that does not know how to play to its strengths. Its colorful cartoon antics will give it a shallow appeal for younger audiences, but nearly everything that could make the movie special is given short shrift. As such, The King and I is a difficult movie to watch. The music and characters may strike some viewers the right way, but general audiences will find that the movie falls short of the mark.

For another musical about a teacher who changes a stern man’s life for the better, try The Sound of Music. For another musical in the same vein, try Mary Poppins. For a more insightful and emotional story about royalty getting to see the outside world, try Roman Holiday.

[4.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160429/). I give it a 5.0 for miscalibrated humor and a shortchanged story.