After almost never seeing it my whole life, I ended up really liking it! The entrance into the film is so kindling and awakening, we get a majestic view of New York City and then it slowly pans in... at that point, I knew I was going to see a good movie!
It's a like Disney version of Oliver Twist with an anthropomorphic mix. On the harsh municipal streets of New York we meet Oliver the kitten (voiced by Joey Lawrence), a very different star in Disney; Oliver soon finds himself on the streets in trouble and alone, but a much unexpected fellow comes to his aid, Dodger the street mongrel. Oliver soon meets the true parental guardian he always wished for, Penny.
The characters in general are very fascinating. As I watch a film I can usually get in the movie, and Oliver is no exception.
I almost feel like I have to be the surrogate big brother for Oliver, he's an irresistibly adorable orange kitten with those big captivating eyes and chuffy mouth, but has a great sense of dignity too, a kid who can survive the streets of an uncaring society (as we see when he first encounters Dodger).
I really like Dodger for some reason, he has that strutting machismo of a rough skinned archetype, but we soon see that he harbors that soft- heart of a big brother for Oliver. Dodger's homeys are a very colorful team of dogs. Tito (Cheech Marin), he's a gag, with his Latino flare and peppy personality he almost gives the will-to-go-on to the other member when they are blue. Francis is the refined one, with a daunting appearance; you'll soon see that he is the gentlemen of the group. Einstein (Richard Mulligan) is the strongman with a heart of gold, but but his role is very small, however we see a hidden leadership within him. Rita (Sheryl Lee Ralph) I really like her; she's like Tina Turner in dog form! She seems to a maternal figure to Oliver and has an underlying superiority over everyone, even Dodger. She's the character you wish to be explained, and yet there is no revelation of her mysterious past.
Penny is very charming, and a very determined mind, but sometimes I find her a little bit annoying, but through her hardships I really begin to understand her, no one-on-one parental interaction, and very lonely spare time. Oh yes, then there's Georgette (the one and only Bette Midler), The pampered poodle blue-ribbon winning of Penny's household, Georgette is a definite screen-hogger; she is the most aberrant of all the Oliver characters and harbors no redeeming qualities throughout. She scheming and endearing at the same time.
Fagin (Dom DeLuise) is the "keeper" of Dodger's gang, even though he's supposed to funny, I can't help but feel sorry for this guy. I guess he represents the vagabond archetype. Sykes is one sick Disney villain; he's very realistic. The Dockyard crime lord wants every under his control and can't stand mistakes, but bestows dubious mercy dripping with poison. Not only is a physical threat to be reckoned with, those Doberman can instantly sic you with the snap of his fingers. His defeat is very unusual for a Disney villain; it makes this light-hearted film dark and interesting.
Like all Disney movies, the voice cast can be respectable or astounding, and for the case of Oliver, this is a rather cool voice cast. Lawrence portrayed a very innocent and even desperate soul for Oliver. Joel did one heck of a job for the macho Dodger, with a strange sly accent. Cheech is the fiery soul of Tito, invigoratingly raspy and even overwhelming. Bette Midler did an astounding job on Georgette's song debut, but I almost felt like Midler's others vocal parts were simmered down.
George Scribner directs Oliver and he did a very good job and graces Disney wonderfully, but he made the film very simple, and if you single out this film out from Disney (where is joins wonderfully) and into the world of the great movies (anyone say Shaw-shank?) it can be awfully weak and childish. The film however flows at a great place, and the sad or thought provoking scenes are put together with emotion and conciseness.
I love how the animation is incredibly urban and contemporary, conveying the flashiness and grittiness of downtown NY. It's like a moving children's book almost throughout (which is a delight). The character design is brimming with soul and life, every one of the animals like a specific human trapped in dog form, the humans are works of art, but sometimes over done. Some action scenes are not to precise, like when Oliver is climbing frantically over the hot dog man, it's very cartoony there as opposed to the rest of the film's child picture-book quality.
I can't expect less from Disney to make original numbers. Not only are the songs jive-provoking, but the score is good too, conveying tenseness and emotion. I absolutely love "Why Should I Worry" (Dodger's debut song); it fleshes the freedom of the city and freedom of an individual (Dodger namely). "Street of Gold" is cool, the theme is the notion of survival, and the virtue of social smarts—Ruth Pointer is amazing! "Perfect isn't Easy" is just good old entertainment, Midler does an amazing job fleshing out that show-tune vanity song. "Once Upon a Time in New York City" by Huey Lewis this is a beautiful song, it's like the essence of the film, the city is can be a harsh place and this is one story of one individual, an orphan and his acceptance into a strange and new society.
It doesn't standout much, but I like it a lot! It is a herald of those that would come; the transcendent Disney Renaissance of 1990's and in a way deserves to be part of those majestic titles!
It's a like Disney version of Oliver Twist with an anthropomorphic mix. On the harsh municipal streets of New York we meet Oliver the kitten (voiced by Joey Lawrence), a very different star in Disney; Oliver soon finds himself on the streets in trouble and alone, but a much unexpected fellow comes to his aid, Dodger the street mongrel. Oliver soon meets the true parental guardian he always wished for, Penny.
The characters in general are very fascinating. As I watch a film I can usually get in the movie, and Oliver is no exception.
I almost feel like I have to be the surrogate big brother for Oliver, he's an irresistibly adorable orange kitten with those big captivating eyes and chuffy mouth, but has a great sense of dignity too, a kid who can survive the streets of an uncaring society (as we see when he first encounters Dodger).
I really like Dodger for some reason, he has that strutting machismo of a rough skinned archetype, but we soon see that he harbors that soft- heart of a big brother for Oliver. Dodger's homeys are a very colorful team of dogs. Tito (Cheech Marin), he's a gag, with his Latino flare and peppy personality he almost gives the will-to-go-on to the other member when they are blue. Francis is the refined one, with a daunting appearance; you'll soon see that he is the gentlemen of the group. Einstein (Richard Mulligan) is the strongman with a heart of gold, but but his role is very small, however we see a hidden leadership within him. Rita (Sheryl Lee Ralph) I really like her; she's like Tina Turner in dog form! She seems to a maternal figure to Oliver and has an underlying superiority over everyone, even Dodger. She's the character you wish to be explained, and yet there is no revelation of her mysterious past.
Penny is very charming, and a very determined mind, but sometimes I find her a little bit annoying, but through her hardships I really begin to understand her, no one-on-one parental interaction, and very lonely spare time. Oh yes, then there's Georgette (the one and only Bette Midler), The pampered poodle blue-ribbon winning of Penny's household, Georgette is a definite screen-hogger; she is the most aberrant of all the Oliver characters and harbors no redeeming qualities throughout. She scheming and endearing at the same time.
Fagin (Dom DeLuise) is the "keeper" of Dodger's gang, even though he's supposed to funny, I can't help but feel sorry for this guy. I guess he represents the vagabond archetype. Sykes is one sick Disney villain; he's very realistic. The Dockyard crime lord wants every under his control and can't stand mistakes, but bestows dubious mercy dripping with poison. Not only is a physical threat to be reckoned with, those Doberman can instantly sic you with the snap of his fingers. His defeat is very unusual for a Disney villain; it makes this light-hearted film dark and interesting.
Like all Disney movies, the voice cast can be respectable or astounding, and for the case of Oliver, this is a rather cool voice cast. Lawrence portrayed a very innocent and even desperate soul for Oliver. Joel did one heck of a job for the macho Dodger, with a strange sly accent. Cheech is the fiery soul of Tito, invigoratingly raspy and even overwhelming. Bette Midler did an astounding job on Georgette's song debut, but I almost felt like Midler's others vocal parts were simmered down.
George Scribner directs Oliver and he did a very good job and graces Disney wonderfully, but he made the film very simple, and if you single out this film out from Disney (where is joins wonderfully) and into the world of the great movies (anyone say Shaw-shank?) it can be awfully weak and childish. The film however flows at a great place, and the sad or thought provoking scenes are put together with emotion and conciseness.
I love how the animation is incredibly urban and contemporary, conveying the flashiness and grittiness of downtown NY. It's like a moving children's book almost throughout (which is a delight). The character design is brimming with soul and life, every one of the animals like a specific human trapped in dog form, the humans are works of art, but sometimes over done. Some action scenes are not to precise, like when Oliver is climbing frantically over the hot dog man, it's very cartoony there as opposed to the rest of the film's child picture-book quality.
I can't expect less from Disney to make original numbers. Not only are the songs jive-provoking, but the score is good too, conveying tenseness and emotion. I absolutely love "Why Should I Worry" (Dodger's debut song); it fleshes the freedom of the city and freedom of an individual (Dodger namely). "Street of Gold" is cool, the theme is the notion of survival, and the virtue of social smarts—Ruth Pointer is amazing! "Perfect isn't Easy" is just good old entertainment, Midler does an amazing job fleshing out that show-tune vanity song. "Once Upon a Time in New York City" by Huey Lewis this is a beautiful song, it's like the essence of the film, the city is can be a harsh place and this is one story of one individual, an orphan and his acceptance into a strange and new society.
It doesn't standout much, but I like it a lot! It is a herald of those that would come; the transcendent Disney Renaissance of 1990's and in a way deserves to be part of those majestic titles!