An American Tail
is a delightful animation that holds up well. Its quality matches that of any
other animation from the era, proving it could stand alongside Disney’s best
from the 1980s. The movie was a collaboration between Don Bluth (All Dogs Go to Heaven) and Steven Spielberg, and their combined efforts paid off beautifully.
The movie is
enjoyable, and the musical score is, for lack of a better word, sweet.
The story takes a darker turn compared to most children’s films. As you watch, you see a young mouse face a series of challenges: he gets lost, sold into a sweatshop, escapes, is swallowed, escapes again, and nearly perishes in a fire. These events, paired with memorable musical interludes, unfold at a fast pace, making it an unforgettable and fun experience for children. There is also a nice voice cast, to carry the story.
The movie
touches on Jewish themes but avoids delving too deeply into them, likely to
keep the story free of political overtones.
Set in 1885, the
plot follows a Jewish mouse family living in Russia in the home of a human.
Papa Mouse gives his children gifts for Hanukkah, and they sing and play
together. He shares a hopeful belief that there are no cats in America.
However, their home is soon raided, and the family decides to immigrate to
America to escape the cats terrorizing them.
During the boat
journey, Papa’s young son, Fievel, wanders off exploring and ends up lost at
sea, presumed dead. Heartbroken, the family settles into their new home,
mourning his loss. Meanwhile, the audience learns that cats indeed exist in
America, even though Papa initially refused to believe it.
Fievel survives
and washes ashore, where he is rescued by a pigeon who encourages him to
"never say never" and search for his family. Taking the advice to
heart, Fievel begins his journey, which quickly turns dangerous. He moves from
one perilous situation to another, but his unwavering determination to reunite
with his family keeps him going.
I enjoyed how
his journey introduced him to new friends and strengthened his resolve to find
his parents.
Some reviews suggest that the darker themes might disturb or lose the interest of younger viewers. However, I don’t think the movie is so grim that children can’t enjoy it or learn from the determined young mouse, Fievel. What I see as drawbacks in the animations are, the tone, it can feel uneven, jumping between lighthearted moments and darker, more intense scenes. The pacing is all over the place—some parts drag, while others rush through important story beats. And at times, it feels like Fievel is just in the background rather than driving the story forward.
The movie was a
huge box office success, despite the mixed reviews it received, and it remains
a joy to watch even now in 2020.
0 comments:
Post a Comment