Let's start with what I do like about the film. Predictably, Oliver & Company's greatest strength is its characters. Oliver is a fine protagonist, but is often relegated to supporting duty in favor of Dodger and his gang of canines, which is by no means a bad thing because the interactions between the gang and Oliver are the highlights of the film. Dodger is clearly a ripoff of Tramp from Lady and the Tramp, but Billy Joel brings enough life to the voice that Dodger becomes a likable character nonetheless. His friends, though, are absolute scene-stealers. Tito (voiced by Cheech Martin) is a relentless comedic character that will have just about anyone laughing every time he opens his motormouth. Francis, in his own over-dramatic way, is downright hilarious and a perfect compliment to the rest of the gang. Rita brings style and sophistication to the gang in an excellent and much needed way, and Einstein is the muscle of the operation with that working greatly for his character. When these characters interact with one another, which fortunately happens often, the film thrives. One of my favorite scenes from the film is when they first arrive at Jenny's house to rescue Oliver and are utterly amazed by everything around them. Speaking of Jenny, she is a nice and sweet addition to the cast as is her family's butler, Winston. Her dog, Georgette (voiced by Bette Midler), is not afforded a bunch of screentime, but she certainly makes her presence felt.
The songs are quite good in Oliver & Company too. The opening number, "Once Upon a Time in New York City" is a lovely tune that is the perfect tone-setter for the entire film. The show-stopping song comes near the beginning of the film with Dodger rambunctiously serenading us with "Why Should I Worry?" It acts as both a character development number as well as a straight ode to the citizens of New York and America in general. Georgette's shining moment, "Perfect Isn't Easy," allows Midler to dazzle and amaze even when her voice is the only thing present on the screen. The company number lead by Rita, "Streets of Gold," is also a fantastic song for characterization and tribute.
Now, to the things I did not care for in Oliver & Company. As I alluded to earlier, it feels like this is Billy Joel's film instead of Disney's film far too often. For some, that works tremendously, and to an extent, it works for me too. However, like I have written before, I hold Disney to a much higher standard, and as great as Joel is, I wanted Disney to leave their mark on this film more so than Joel did. Furthermore, as much as I enjoyed the songs, there were almost too many, which further enhanced my feelings towards Joel's presence. Sometimes, it feels as if Oliver & Company is simply an animated concert for Joel and Midler. Midler's song, while great, is quite random and frankly unnecessary. Disney tries to right this wrong when the dogs are not singing, but they ultimately fall short in that regard.
Additionally, the animation is mediocre at best. I love the style they enforced here by keeping the shots at a dog's vantage point (similar to what they did with Lady and the Tramp), but there are too many shots, especially of the ones that show New York City from a distance, that are not appealing to the eye whatsoever. Once more, the Disney standard strikes. Knowing that The Little Mermaid is tomorrow's film, one of the most beautiful films ever animated and it was released just one year after Oliver & Company, the animation on display here is simply not up to par for Disney's standards.
Also, for every great Disney villain (remember Ratigan from yesterday), there is sometimes a terrible Disney villain, and Sykes is a terrible Disney villain. He is so terrible that his antics are oftentimes comical instead of vile. In the film's final climatic chase scene, Sykes drives his fancy limousine-like car down a subway station stairwell and onto the subway's tracks...all in an effort to capture Oliver...who is a cat...because that is his grand scheme! When Sykes ultimately meets his demise, you cannot help but laugh due to the manner in which he dies. He is never intimidating, never threatening, and never makes much of an impression beyond providing some unwarranted comedy.
Oliver & Company is not a bad film at all, but it is certainly not a great film. There is potential in this story, and we sometimes get a glance at the classic story found somewhere in there, but in the end, Oliver & Company comes and goes with a moderate entertainment value, nice characters (except for Sykes), good (although random) songs, and a minimal impact on its audience.
Rating: 6.5/10
Historical Significance: Oliver & Company marks the end of an era for Disney that I call the Lost Era. After Walt Disney's death, the studio lost its identity on the animation front quite a bit. Instead of producing classic after classic as they were in the fifties and sixties, Disney began producing classics like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and then immediately following them with lackluster films like The Rescuers. They were not really sure what to do in the absence of their leader, and it would take them over twenty years to realize that Walt had it right all along. Beginning tomorrow, Disney returns to classic form as we enter the Disney Renaissance, in which they re-embraced fairy tales and began bringing in some legendary talent again instead of settling for mediocrity.
Behind the Scenes: A few genuine legends were initially eyed by Disney for roles in Oliver & Company. Michael Eisner approached Marlon Brando personally and offered him the role of Sykes, but Brando declined the offer due to his belief that the film, and the character, would bomb (good call, Brando). Star Trek alum Patrick Stewart was offered the role of Francis while Whitney Houston was given a chance to voice Rita. Also, before bringing in Billy Joel, Steve Martin and Burt Reynolds were eyed for Dodger.
Favorite Character: Dodger's gang is undoubtedly the highlight of the film, but Tito is my favorite because he is the standout. Every line of dialogue he is given is hilarious and has me laughing out loud every time. A lion's share of the credit for that accomplishment can go to Cheech Martin, who provides the perfect voice for this dynamic character. Plus, the animators also do an exquisite job bringing him to life with his antics and facial expressions.
Favorite Scene/Song: The one time that the Billy Joel/Disney partnership worked out splendidly is in the "Why Should I Worry?" sequence. This scene not only allows Joel to show off his signature vocals with a catchy song, but it also allows the animators to stretch their legs in the greatest city in the world. Following Dodger maneuvering his way in traffic and throughout the streets of New York City, character development occurs as well as superb animation.
Updated Ranking: My sister loves this film, so she will probably disagree wholeheartedly with this review and this ranking, but we can agree to disagree.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- The Jungle Book
- Sleeping Beauty
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- 101 Dalmatians
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- The AristoCats
- Fun and Fancy Free
- The Fox and the Hound
- Robin Hood
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Oliver & Company
- The Rescuers
- The Sword in the Stone
- Make Mine Music
- The Black Cauldron
I have been anxiously anticipating the day when I could finally type this next phrase: ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow, I welcome you to the Disney Renaissance!
-Cody Fleenor
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