Review of Oliver & Company (1988) by Brandon C — 11 Aug 2016

If you love Billy Joel, you'll love this film. Animators pick up the pace with a jazzy, upbeat rendition of Dicken's Oliver Twist set in New York, with the real twist being that the characters are dogs.

It sounds a little strange on paper but there's no doubt it worked well on the screen. Featuring a superb voice cast featuring Billy Joel and Bette Midler among other fine performances, the film is elevated by infectious rhythms that get your feet tappin'.

Disney continues into the Broadway musical-type formula and it definitely pays off. The script is sharp but it's rarely laugh out loud and the human characters seem dull. The movie's forte definitely lies in its canine characters especially considering their originality; Disney has a tendency to reuse certain personality molds especially in their minor characters in other films.

But it's those minor characters in Oliver & Co., like a thespian Bulldog and a rowdy Mexican Chihuahua (voiced by Cheech Marin nonetheless), that keep you interested.