Review of The Rescuers (1977) by Chris N — 19 Jun 2009

It's an enjoyable film ("Rescue Aid Society" WILL get stuck in your head), but it was a transitional period for Disney Animation. There weren't many "classics" in the Disney canon from 1967's The Jungle Book to 1989's The Little Mermaid, besides the endearing Winnie the Pooh shorts and a few likeable, solid efforts that just missed the mark (Fox and the Hound, Aristocats, etc.).

It's pretty average stuff here. Highlight is definitely the voice casting. The two mice, played by the unbeatable Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart, are stellar characters mostly because of the actors behind them. Underwhelming villian, a woman pawn-shop owner, a poor man's Cruella de Vil with a typical klutz sidekick. The little orphan girl is kind of annoying too. Clearly written to make the viewer sympathize with, she has an over-the-top cutesy voice, a trusty teddy bear, a drawing of her future mom and dad next to her bed, an incredibly sad song playing while wishing on a star, and she cries a lot and even prays. It's just too much, even by Disney's standards.

I liked the Rescuers Down Under a lot better - McLeach the pscyho poacher was a helluva lot more fun and the animation was much better. The distinct rough animation style from the 1960s is still mostly used in this 1977 production and it was beginning to wear its welcome years before that.