“Oliver & Co.” (1988)

Oliver & Co. 

Brief Description:

A lost kitten joins a gang of dogs engaged in petty larceny in New York City.

(from IMDb)

Date: 1988

Genre: American animated musical adventure comedy-drama film

Running time: 1 hour 14 minutes

Cast: 

Joey Lawrence: Oliver

Natalie Gregory & Myhanh Tran: Jenny

Billy Joel: Dodger

Cheech Marin: Tito

Richard Mulligan: Einstein

Roscoe Lee Browne: Francis

Sheryl Lee Ralph & Ruth Pointer: Rita

Dom DeLuise: Fagin

Taurean Blacque: Roscoe

Carl Weintraub: DeSoto

Robert Loggia: Sykes

William Glover: Winston

Bette Midler: Georgette

Frank Welker: Louie the sausage vendor

Director: George Scribner

Production company: 

Inspired by: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 3.5/5

I've wanted to watch this for a long time but I disliked the opening so much that it took a while for me to force myself to watch it. I like the NYC setting, from Jenny's posh neighbourhood to the busy main streets to the dingy docks, though. 

Characters: 3.5/5

Winston, Jenny, & Oliver are my favourites. They're all so sweet. Fagin I felt sorry for and he ended up really decent; while Sykes and his dobermans were terrifying. Tito drove me crazy, he was so over-the-top and hyper and braggy; and Dodger was just too brash. Georgette ended up rather funny though. 

Plot: 3.5/5

Once I got past the beginning (the songs in this film drove me BATTY, but especially the first two) I enjoyed it somewhat. It's rather dark and sad, but that is to be expected, being based on OT. The ending was very high-stakes (I actually stopped cross-stitching to watch, lol) and rather more wild than I expected, but overall I enjoyed it. 

Romance: 2/5

There's just a tiny thread of romance between Georgette and Tito but I hated every second of it (and 90% of that was because of Tito offering kisses and yelling "WOMAN"). 

Theme/Message/Topics: 3/5

I feel like Jenny's kidnapping is a very good talking point for families. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Probably some mild euphemisms? I forget. 

Violence: 3/5 (medium)

Aggressive dogs threatening to attack/bite/kill; lots of pushing around and threatening by Sykes; kidnapping; car chase ending in fiery death after crashing with a train. 

Overall: 3.5/5

I think I'll watch it again, but I doubt it will ever be a favourite. 

“Lady & the Tramp” (1955)

Lady & the Tramp

Brief Description:

The romantic tale of a sheltered uptown Cocker Spaniel and a streetwise downtown mutt.

(from IMDb)

Date: 1955

Genre: American animated musical romantic comedy film

Running time: 1 hour 16 minutes

Cast: 

Peggy Lee: Darling; Peg; Si & Am

Barbara Luddy: Lady

Larry Roberts: Tramp

Bill Thompson: Jock; Joe; Bull; Dachsie; the policeman; Jim's friend

Bill Baucom: Trusty

Stan Freberg: the beaver

Verna Felton: Aunt Sarah

Alan Reed: Boris

George Givot: Tony

Dallas McKennon: Toughy; Pedro; the professor; the hyena

Lee Millar: Jim Dear; the dogcatcher; the man in the pet shop

Thurl Ravenscroft: the alligator

Thurl Ravenscroft, Bill Lee, Max Smith, & Bob Stevens: Dog Chorus

Donald Novis: lead vocals for the opening song

Director: Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, & Wilfred Jackson

Production company: Walt Disney Productions

Inspired by: Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog by Ward Greene

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

I love the setting of Lady's side of town—it's so pretty and Edwardian! The Christmas beginning and ending are particularly charming and nostalgic. 

Characters: 4/5

Although I have a few bones to pick with Tramp, he's not half bad, and Lady's a little sweetheart. Jock is adorable and Trusty's amusing. Jim & Darling are nice enough too, and Aunt Sarah ends up sort redeeming herself. As for the dogs in the kennel, they're hilarious and heartbreaking all at once. (And I love their singing numbers.)

Plot: 4/5

Well-crafted plot, with plenty of tension and sweet moments, along with good humour. 

Romance: 4/5

Tramp & Lady are pretty cute together 😉 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Mild violence (dog fights, etc) 

Overall: 4/5

It's sweet, vintage, and very pretty :) 

“The Aristocats” (1970)

The Aristocats

Brief Description:

With the help of a smooth talking tomcat, a family of Parisian felines set to inherit a fortune from their owner try to make it back home after a jealous butler kidnaps them and leaves them in the country.

(from IMDb)

Date: 1970

Genre: American animated musical comedy film

Running time: 1 hour 19 minutes

Cast: 

Phil Harris: O'Malley

Eva Gabor & Robie Lester: Duchesse

Gary Dubin: Toulouse

Liz English: Marie

Dean Clark: Berlioz

Sterling Holloway: Roquefort

Scatman Crothers: Scat Cat

Paul Winchell: Shun Gon

Lord Tim Hudson: Hit Cat

Vito Scotti: Peppo

Thurl Ravenscroft: Billy Boss

Nancy Kulp & Ruth Buzzi: Frou-Frou

Pat Buttram: Napoleon

George Lindsey: Lafayette

Hermione Baddeley: Madame

Charles Lane: Georges

Roddy Maude-Roxby: Edgar

Monica Evans: Abigail

Carole Shelley: Amelia

Bill Thompson: Uncle Waldo

Peter Renaday: French Milkman, Le Petit Café Cook, Truck Movers

Director: Wolfgang Reitherman

Production company: Walt Disney Productions

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 3/5

Okay, I know this is a little nitpicky, but... y'all. This is Paris. Why are Madame and Edgar (and Georges!!) English? Why is Duchess the only one with an accent, and why is it more German than French? Why are the hounds Southerners? Why do people even pronounce "le petit café" as "petite"? I love the scenery, but I can't take the dialogue, lol. 

Characters: 3.5/5

Roquefort is my favourite—he's so sweet. I'm not a fan of O'Malley; he's such a flatterer and so casual. Duchess and the kittens are cute though, and as much as I fundamentally object to them given the setting, the dogs are hilarious! 

Plot: 4/5

I enjoy the whole adventure/danger part of the plot, and the humour following Edgar's escapades. 

Romance: 4/5

O'Malley and Duchess are kinda cute, and I like how he steps up as a father for the kittens. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Not a fan of the drunken uncle, and I don't particularly care for the music sessions either. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Mild slapstick violence.

Overall: 3.5/5

It's just not my favourite, to be honest. 🤷🏻‍♀️