Review of Bambi II (2006) by Éric I — 10 Jan 2012

It's true that the classic 1942 film left a bit of an untold chapter, but I wonder if it was really necessary to fill in the gap 64 years later? Still, if it had to be done, and I'm sure according to Disney's greedy principles it had to be, then I'm glad it was done the way it does.

Bambi II is not a follow-up but a midquel to the classic film that tells the story of Bambi's growing up, guided by his friends and the Great Prince, his father. The movie, like most children's films nowadays, suffers slightly from an overdone of comical gags, but still manages to be rather engaging, cute and very touching at parts.

Adding to the nostalgia, it was thought rightfully appropriate to bring back familiar melodies from Walt Disney's original classic, and the voice talent does a fine job, even if the new Thumper's voice isn't nearly as adorable as the original.

Overall, I think Bambi II is as unnecessary as just about every single one of Disney's sequels, but is quite a landslide above the likes of "The Fox and the Hound II," "The Rescuers Down Under" or "Cinderella II: Dreams Come True," just three sequels to animated classics that were made for no good reason.