On the evening of June 14, 1997, Walt Disney Animation Studios took over Manhattan’s Times Square for a larger-than-life launch for their 35th animated feature. Amid dance numbers and celebrity arrivals, “Hercules” premiered at the New Amsterdam Theater, then newly reopened to serve as the home of “The Lion King” musical. Right outside, the Main Street Electrical Parade made its way along the famed 42nd Street.
Transported from Disneyland in California to New York City for the occasion, this procession of floats — illuminated by thousands of lights — debuted two new vessels in honor of the film that everyone had gathered to celebrate. It was a promotional act worthy of the gods, broadcast live across the country for anyone who wanted to get a glimpse at the latest addition to the Disney pantheon: A wisecracking family tale about a certain Greek demigod (voiced by Tate Donovan) finding his way back home to Mt.
Transported from Disneyland in California to New York City for the occasion, this procession of floats — illuminated by thousands of lights — debuted two new vessels in honor of the film that everyone had gathered to celebrate. It was a promotional act worthy of the gods, broadcast live across the country for anyone who wanted to get a glimpse at the latest addition to the Disney pantheon: A wisecracking family tale about a certain Greek demigod (voiced by Tate Donovan) finding his way back home to Mt.
- 8/16/2022
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Indiewire
Hollywood franchise movies “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” have both secured April theatrical release dates in mainland China.
“Transylvania” will open in Chinese cinemas on Sunday April 3, 2022, a couple of days ahead of the Qingming or Tomb Sweeping holiday on April 5. “Beasts” will open, more conventionally, on Friday, April 8.
Sony missed out on a China release for “Spider Man: No Way Home,” which was the biggest film worldwide in 2021. But the confirmation represents the studio’s second Hollywood film this year to receive approval from the Chinese authorities. “Beasts 3” is the third of 2022 for Warner Bros. (after “The Matrix: Revolutions” in January and “The Batman” on March 18).
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” releases in North America on April 15, 2022, meaning that the studio has time to build a marketing campaign in the Middle Kingdom and that the Chinese outing briefly precedes the stateside debut.
All...
“Transylvania” will open in Chinese cinemas on Sunday April 3, 2022, a couple of days ahead of the Qingming or Tomb Sweeping holiday on April 5. “Beasts” will open, more conventionally, on Friday, April 8.
Sony missed out on a China release for “Spider Man: No Way Home,” which was the biggest film worldwide in 2021. But the confirmation represents the studio’s second Hollywood film this year to receive approval from the Chinese authorities. “Beasts 3” is the third of 2022 for Warner Bros. (after “The Matrix: Revolutions” in January and “The Batman” on March 18).
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” releases in North America on April 15, 2022, meaning that the studio has time to build a marketing campaign in the Middle Kingdom and that the Chinese outing briefly precedes the stateside debut.
All...
- 3/8/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Drac and the Pack are back, like you’ve never seen them before in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Reunite with your favorite monsters for an all-new adventure that presents Drac (Brian Hull) with his most terrifying task yet. When Van Helsing’s (Jim Gaffigan) mysterious invention, the ‘Monsterification Ray,’ goes haywire, Drac and his monster pals are all transformed into humans, and Johnny (Andy Samberg) becomes a monster! In their new mismatched bodies, Drac, stripped of his powers, and an exuberant Johnny, loving life as a monster, must team up and race across the globe to find a cure before it’s too late, and before they drive each other crazy. With help from Mavis (Selena Gomez) and the hilariously human Drac Pack, the heat is on to find a way to switch themselves back before their transformations become permanent. The film also features the voices of Kathryn Hahn (Ericka), Steve Buscemi...
- 12/21/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Twitch gamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins will make his animated movie debut, opposite Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg, in “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania,” the fourth installment in the hit family-friendly monster franchise.
Blevins, who has 17 million followers on Twitch, will play a character named Party Monster in the Sony Pictures Animation feature. He most recently made a cameo as himself in Ryan Reynolds’ action-comedy “Free Guy.” He also appeared on the second season of Fox’s reality music competition show “The Masked Singer” as “Ice Cream.” Blevins first gained wide attention in March 2018 when he played “Fortnite” with Drake, Travis Scott and JuJu Smith-Schuster on stream.
Directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska, “Transformania” sees the return of Gomez as Mavis and Samberg as Johnny. In the new film, the monsters are turned into humans and humans become monsters after one of Van Helsing’s (Jim Gaffigan) inventions goes haywire. The cast also includes Brian Hull,...
Blevins, who has 17 million followers on Twitch, will play a character named Party Monster in the Sony Pictures Animation feature. He most recently made a cameo as himself in Ryan Reynolds’ action-comedy “Free Guy.” He also appeared on the second season of Fox’s reality music competition show “The Masked Singer” as “Ice Cream.” Blevins first gained wide attention in March 2018 when he played “Fortnite” with Drake, Travis Scott and JuJu Smith-Schuster on stream.
Directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska, “Transformania” sees the return of Gomez as Mavis and Samberg as Johnny. In the new film, the monsters are turned into humans and humans become monsters after one of Van Helsing’s (Jim Gaffigan) inventions goes haywire. The cast also includes Brian Hull,...
- 12/10/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
The fourth and final installment in the “Hotel Transylvania” franchise, “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania,” will now debut during a far spookier month.
Previously dated for July 23, the Sony Pictures Animation film will now release on Oct. 1, kicking off the Halloween season. The movie will see Drac (Brian Hull) and the rest of the monsters embark on a brand-new adventure full of twists and turns. When a new invention created by Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan) transforms all the monsters into humans and Johnny (Andy Samberg) into a monster, they must work together to switch back before the change becomes permanent.
“Hotel Transylvania” franchise creator Genndy Tartakovsky is the screenwriter and executive producer of the film, which is directed by Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon. Selena Gomez reprises her role as Drac’s daughter, Mavis, and also serves as an executive producer. “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” is also executive produced by Michelle Murdocca and produced by Alice Dewey Goldstone.
Previously dated for July 23, the Sony Pictures Animation film will now release on Oct. 1, kicking off the Halloween season. The movie will see Drac (Brian Hull) and the rest of the monsters embark on a brand-new adventure full of twists and turns. When a new invention created by Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan) transforms all the monsters into humans and Johnny (Andy Samberg) into a monster, they must work together to switch back before the change becomes permanent.
“Hotel Transylvania” franchise creator Genndy Tartakovsky is the screenwriter and executive producer of the film, which is directed by Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon. Selena Gomez reprises her role as Drac’s daughter, Mavis, and also serves as an executive producer. “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” is also executive produced by Michelle Murdocca and produced by Alice Dewey Goldstone.
- 6/18/2021
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Sony Pictures announced Friday that the final chapter of the “Hotel Transylvania” animated series called “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” will now be released on Oct. 1, 2021.
The film was originally slated to be released on July 23.
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky and starring Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg, the three “Hotel Transylvania” films have collectively grossed over $1.3 billion at the global box office, becoming Sony Pictures Animation’s most lucrative franchise. Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon will take over as directors on “Transformania,” though Tartakovsky will stay on as screenwriter and executive producer. Alice Dewey Goldstone is producing the film, with Gomez and Michelle Murdocca executive producing.
In its new release slot, “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” faces direct opening competition from Warner Bros.’ long-awaited “Dune” from director Denis Villeneuve, and United Artists Releasing’s animated sequel to “The Addams Family.”
Villeneuve has assembled an impressive cast for the Warner Bros. epic, including Timothee Chalamet,...
The film was originally slated to be released on July 23.
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky and starring Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg, the three “Hotel Transylvania” films have collectively grossed over $1.3 billion at the global box office, becoming Sony Pictures Animation’s most lucrative franchise. Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon will take over as directors on “Transformania,” though Tartakovsky will stay on as screenwriter and executive producer. Alice Dewey Goldstone is producing the film, with Gomez and Michelle Murdocca executive producing.
In its new release slot, “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” faces direct opening competition from Warner Bros.’ long-awaited “Dune” from director Denis Villeneuve, and United Artists Releasing’s animated sequel to “The Addams Family.”
Villeneuve has assembled an impressive cast for the Warner Bros. epic, including Timothee Chalamet,...
- 6/18/2021
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Updated, 2:08: Sony is moving its four-quel to October 1. Hotel Transylvania: Transformania was slated to go this summer, on July 23. Some of this could have to do with the fact that the domestic marketplace isn’t fully back yet: Portions of Canada remain closed, and capacity restrictions average around 66% — this despite the fact that L.A. and NYC are at 100% this weekend. The studio just tried to open Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, which it kept safe for a pure theatrical release during the pandemic, but families didn’t rush out to see it, with the sequel opening to $10.1M. Peter Rabbit 2 already has done $58M abroad.
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania moves off a very busy weekend where Universal’s M. Night Shyamalan thriller Old is squaring off with Paramount’s Snake Eyes, among major studio fare. Transformania moves to a weekend where Warner Bros./HBO has Legendary’s Dune,...
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania moves off a very busy weekend where Universal’s M. Night Shyamalan thriller Old is squaring off with Paramount’s Snake Eyes, among major studio fare. Transformania moves to a weekend where Warner Bros./HBO has Legendary’s Dune,...
- 6/18/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Drac and the pack are back, like you’ve never seen them before in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Reunite with your favorite monsters for an all-new adventure that presents Drac with his most terrifying task yet.
When Van Helsing’s mysterious invention, the ‘Monsterfication Ray,” goes haywire, Drac and his monster pals are all transformed into humans, and Johnny becomes a monster! In their new mismatched bodies, Drac, stripped of his powers, and an exuberant Johnny, loving life as a monster, must team up and race across the globe to find a cure before it’s too late, and before they drive each other crazy. With help from Mavis and the hilariously human Drac Pack, the heat is on to find a way to switch themselves back before their transformations become permanent.
The voice-cast includes Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Brian Hull, Asher Blinkoff,...
When Van Helsing’s mysterious invention, the ‘Monsterfication Ray,” goes haywire, Drac and his monster pals are all transformed into humans, and Johnny becomes a monster! In their new mismatched bodies, Drac, stripped of his powers, and an exuberant Johnny, loving life as a monster, must team up and race across the globe to find a cure before it’s too late, and before they drive each other crazy. With help from Mavis and the hilariously human Drac Pack, the heat is on to find a way to switch themselves back before their transformations become permanent.
The voice-cast includes Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Brian Hull, Asher Blinkoff,...
- 5/17/2021
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Celebrate National Pet Day 2021 with the new adorable Monster Pets: A Hotel Transylvania Short.
Drac’s lovable, monster-sized puppy, Tinkles, has more energy than ever and just wants to play ball! Unfortunately, Drac is too busy juggling his duties at the hotel, so he is determined to find a monster pet companion for his huge furry friend. After a series of mismatches, Drac’s plan goes awry when Tinkles chooses a very unlikely companion.
Hotel Transylvania 4 is heading to theaters this summer!
Drac’s Pack is back, like you’ve never seen them before. Hotel Transylvania: Transformania will be the final chapter of the successful franchise from Sony Pictures Animation, with the first three installments grossing over $1.3 billion at the global box office. Franchise creator Genndy Tartakovsky returns as screenwriter and executive producer, alongside Michelle Murdocca and Selena Gomez, who will also reprise her role as Dracula’s daughter,...
Drac’s lovable, monster-sized puppy, Tinkles, has more energy than ever and just wants to play ball! Unfortunately, Drac is too busy juggling his duties at the hotel, so he is determined to find a monster pet companion for his huge furry friend. After a series of mismatches, Drac’s plan goes awry when Tinkles chooses a very unlikely companion.
Hotel Transylvania 4 is heading to theaters this summer!
Drac’s Pack is back, like you’ve never seen them before. Hotel Transylvania: Transformania will be the final chapter of the successful franchise from Sony Pictures Animation, with the first three installments grossing over $1.3 billion at the global box office. Franchise creator Genndy Tartakovsky returns as screenwriter and executive producer, alongside Michelle Murdocca and Selena Gomez, who will also reprise her role as Dracula’s daughter,...
- 4/11/2021
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Sony Pictures announced Friday that the final chapter of the “Hotel Transylvania” series will be called “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania,” and its release date will be moved up to July 23.
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky and starring Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg, the three “Hotel Transylvania” films have grossed over $1.3 billion at the global box office, becoming Sony Pictures Animation’s most lucrative franchise. Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon will take over as directors on “Transformania,” though Tartakovsky will stay on as screenwriter and executive producer. Alice Dewey Goldstone is producing the film with Gomez and Michelle Murdocca executive producing.
In its new release slot, “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” faces no direct opening competition as the only other wide release set for that weekend is the M. Night Shyamalan horror film “Old.” Its main competition for family audiences comes before and after, as Warner Bros. will release “Space Jam: A New Legacy...
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky and starring Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg, the three “Hotel Transylvania” films have grossed over $1.3 billion at the global box office, becoming Sony Pictures Animation’s most lucrative franchise. Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon will take over as directors on “Transformania,” though Tartakovsky will stay on as screenwriter and executive producer. Alice Dewey Goldstone is producing the film with Gomez and Michelle Murdocca executive producing.
In its new release slot, “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” faces no direct opening competition as the only other wide release set for that weekend is the M. Night Shyamalan horror film “Old.” Its main competition for family audiences comes before and after, as Warner Bros. will release “Space Jam: A New Legacy...
- 4/9/2021
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Selena Gomez is getting an upgraded suite for the next installment of the Sony Pictures Animation franchise “Hotel Transylvania.”
Gomez will serve as an executive producer in addition to voicing the co-lead on the project, Dracula’s thoroughly modern daughter Mavis.
The “Hotel” franchise has generated over $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, consisting of three films and a spinoff series. Adam Sandler has voiced Dracula, the proprietor of a spooky hotel that serves as a haven for mythological monsters who cannot live openly among humans.
Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon will direct the new film, which is due to hit screen on Aug. 6, 2021. Series creator Genndy Tartakovsky returns as screenwriter and executive producer, along with Michelle Murdocca. Alice Dewey Goldstone also serves as producer.
Gomez’s live-action credits include “The Dead Don’t Die,” “The Big Short,” and the Netflix original “Fundamentals of Caring.” The former Disney star also executive...
Gomez will serve as an executive producer in addition to voicing the co-lead on the project, Dracula’s thoroughly modern daughter Mavis.
The “Hotel” franchise has generated over $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, consisting of three films and a spinoff series. Adam Sandler has voiced Dracula, the proprietor of a spooky hotel that serves as a haven for mythological monsters who cannot live openly among humans.
Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon will direct the new film, which is due to hit screen on Aug. 6, 2021. Series creator Genndy Tartakovsky returns as screenwriter and executive producer, along with Michelle Murdocca. Alice Dewey Goldstone also serves as producer.
Gomez’s live-action credits include “The Dead Don’t Die,” “The Big Short,” and the Netflix original “Fundamentals of Caring.” The former Disney star also executive...
- 9/17/2020
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The Movie Pool hears a discouraging word from the Home on the Range Blu-ray!
The Set-up
A cow (Roseanne Barr) tries to save her farm by tracking down an elusive cattle rustler.
Directed by Will Finn and John Sanford
The Delivery
Anyone remember Home on the Range? It's an animated Disney film from 2004. Already slipped your mind, eh? There's a reason for that. Home on the Range is perhaps Disney's most embarrassing animated effort since Song of the South. That's probably why you never see it in any Disney highlight reels anywhere.
Featuring perhaps the worst leading character in Disney history - a cow - the filmmakers managed to completely doom this project by having the character performed by the one person whose voice is a human rights violation: Roseanne Barr.
What....were....they....thinking? This film is carried by the vocal talents of an actress whose sound can unleash...
The Set-up
A cow (Roseanne Barr) tries to save her farm by tracking down an elusive cattle rustler.
Directed by Will Finn and John Sanford
The Delivery
Anyone remember Home on the Range? It's an animated Disney film from 2004. Already slipped your mind, eh? There's a reason for that. Home on the Range is perhaps Disney's most embarrassing animated effort since Song of the South. That's probably why you never see it in any Disney highlight reels anywhere.
Featuring perhaps the worst leading character in Disney history - a cow - the filmmakers managed to completely doom this project by having the character performed by the one person whose voice is a human rights violation: Roseanne Barr.
What....were....they....thinking? This film is carried by the vocal talents of an actress whose sound can unleash...
- 7/31/2012
- by feeds@themoviepool.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
The early 2000s weren't very kind to Disney's animated films. Although I liked many of the movies they released at the time, they didn't seem to resonate with audiences and gain that "instant" classic badge of honor that many of the studios works like Aladdin and The Lion King earned in the 1990s. Disney decided it was time to release a couple of those movies from the 2000s on Blu-ray and Home on the Range is one of them.
In the movie, three cows from different walks of life embark on a journey to capture an outlaw and collect the reward. The reward is exactly the amount of money they need to save the farm they live on from a greedy land grabber intent on buying up all the property in that area. They partner up with different animals along the way and battle others to keep their home.
Home on the Range...
In the movie, three cows from different walks of life embark on a journey to capture an outlaw and collect the reward. The reward is exactly the amount of money they need to save the farm they live on from a greedy land grabber intent on buying up all the property in that area. They partner up with different animals along the way and battle others to keep their home.
Home on the Range...
- 7/12/2012
- by feeds@themoviepool.com (Eric Shirey)
- Cinelinx
Opens
Friday, April 2
NEW YORK -- This amiable, Western-themed animated effort from the Walt Disney Co. is a clear attempt to return to the more lighthearted cartoon style that was so prevalent before its onslaught of stately musical epics. The tale of a group of animals determined to save their owner's dairy farm from the clutches of an evil outlaw, "Home on the Range" also boasts the return of composer Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin") to the creative team.
While not destined to assume a place in the Disney animation pantheon, the film should reasonably entertain the Small Fry during the current holiday season, though it is not likely to attract the adult crossover audience that can make for a breakout animated hit. It may also suffer from the competition, judging by the plaintive cry "When is it going to be Scooby-Doo?" heard from one tyke during the screening.
Featuring the sort of disparate voice-over cast emblematic of Disney cartoons, the film stars, among others, Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench, representing the most unusual screen pairing since, well, Barr and Meryl Streep in "She Devil". They voice the characters of cows Maggie and Mrs. Caloway, who, along with fellow cow Grace (Jennifer Tilly), fight to rescue their kindly owner Pearl (Carole Cook) from having her farm taken over by the dastardly Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid). Joining forces with a variety of other animals from the farm -- including horse Buck (Cuba Gooding Jr.), ace can-kicking goat Jeb (Joe Flaherty) and a variety of pigs, chickens, etc. -- they set out to capture Slim in the hope of garnering the reward for his head. Besides the expected dangers, they also must contend with competition from bounty hunter Rico (Charles Dennis, doing a Clint Eastwood homage).
The screenplay by co-directors Will Finn and John Sanford is a genial, jokey affair, filled with the requisite juvenile humor (belching pigs, etc.) and sprinkled with enough adult-oriented asides, like bulls leering after dairy cows ("Let me guess, you're a Taurus", one of the former comments), to qualify the film for a PG rating. While there are indeed some funny moments -- "We don't eat meat
it's like a professional courtesy," Barr's cow explains -- the humor generally lacks the manic hilarity of the Pixar efforts. And some of the gags, like Rico quoting a line from "Little Caesar" or a brief switch to widescreen that may be an in-joke reference to the company's own "Horse Whisperer", are likely to go over the heads of even the adult audience members.
The film's conventional, old-fashioned animation style generally gets the job done, with the anthropomorphic animal qualities rendered with the proper cute appeal. The voice talents do well by their characters. Barr scores consistent laughs as the sassy Maggie. Dench uses her elegant tones to good effect as the refined Mrs. Caloway. Gooding, as the vain horse, and Tilly, as plucky cow Grace, also are very enjoyable, no doubt because they seem so much like cartoon characters even in real life. Also very funny is Steve Buscemi, whose sleazy human character amusingly bears more than a slight resemblance to him.
Menken, besides his score, also has contributed several pleasant new songs (lyrics by Glenn Slater), none destined to be standards. They're sung by such stars as k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt and Tim McGraw.
Home on the Range
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Credits:
Directors-screenwriters: Will Finn, John Sanford
Producer: Alice Dewey Goldstone
Original score: Alan Menken
Original songs: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater
Story: Will Finn, John Sanford, Michael LaBash, Sam Levine, Mark Kennedy, Robert Lence
Associate producer: David J. Steinberg
Editor: H. Lee Peterson
Art director: David Cutler
Voices:
Maggie: Roseanne Barr
Mrs. Caloway: Judi Dench
Grace: Jennifer Tilly
Buck: Cuba Gooding Jr.
Slim: Randy Quaid
Pearl: Carole Cook
Sheriff Brown: Richard Riehle
Rico: Charles Dennis
Rusty: G.W. Baily
Lucky Jack: Charles Haid
Audrey: Estelle Harris
Jeb: Joe Flaherty
Ollie: Charlie Dell
Wesley: Steve Buscemi
Patrick: Patrick Warburton
Annie: Ann Richards
Phil, Bill & Gil Willie: Sam Levine
Running time 74 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Friday, April 2
NEW YORK -- This amiable, Western-themed animated effort from the Walt Disney Co. is a clear attempt to return to the more lighthearted cartoon style that was so prevalent before its onslaught of stately musical epics. The tale of a group of animals determined to save their owner's dairy farm from the clutches of an evil outlaw, "Home on the Range" also boasts the return of composer Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin") to the creative team.
While not destined to assume a place in the Disney animation pantheon, the film should reasonably entertain the Small Fry during the current holiday season, though it is not likely to attract the adult crossover audience that can make for a breakout animated hit. It may also suffer from the competition, judging by the plaintive cry "When is it going to be Scooby-Doo?" heard from one tyke during the screening.
Featuring the sort of disparate voice-over cast emblematic of Disney cartoons, the film stars, among others, Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench, representing the most unusual screen pairing since, well, Barr and Meryl Streep in "She Devil". They voice the characters of cows Maggie and Mrs. Caloway, who, along with fellow cow Grace (Jennifer Tilly), fight to rescue their kindly owner Pearl (Carole Cook) from having her farm taken over by the dastardly Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid). Joining forces with a variety of other animals from the farm -- including horse Buck (Cuba Gooding Jr.), ace can-kicking goat Jeb (Joe Flaherty) and a variety of pigs, chickens, etc. -- they set out to capture Slim in the hope of garnering the reward for his head. Besides the expected dangers, they also must contend with competition from bounty hunter Rico (Charles Dennis, doing a Clint Eastwood homage).
The screenplay by co-directors Will Finn and John Sanford is a genial, jokey affair, filled with the requisite juvenile humor (belching pigs, etc.) and sprinkled with enough adult-oriented asides, like bulls leering after dairy cows ("Let me guess, you're a Taurus", one of the former comments), to qualify the film for a PG rating. While there are indeed some funny moments -- "We don't eat meat
it's like a professional courtesy," Barr's cow explains -- the humor generally lacks the manic hilarity of the Pixar efforts. And some of the gags, like Rico quoting a line from "Little Caesar" or a brief switch to widescreen that may be an in-joke reference to the company's own "Horse Whisperer", are likely to go over the heads of even the adult audience members.
The film's conventional, old-fashioned animation style generally gets the job done, with the anthropomorphic animal qualities rendered with the proper cute appeal. The voice talents do well by their characters. Barr scores consistent laughs as the sassy Maggie. Dench uses her elegant tones to good effect as the refined Mrs. Caloway. Gooding, as the vain horse, and Tilly, as plucky cow Grace, also are very enjoyable, no doubt because they seem so much like cartoon characters even in real life. Also very funny is Steve Buscemi, whose sleazy human character amusingly bears more than a slight resemblance to him.
Menken, besides his score, also has contributed several pleasant new songs (lyrics by Glenn Slater), none destined to be standards. They're sung by such stars as k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt and Tim McGraw.
Home on the Range
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Credits:
Directors-screenwriters: Will Finn, John Sanford
Producer: Alice Dewey Goldstone
Original score: Alan Menken
Original songs: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater
Story: Will Finn, John Sanford, Michael LaBash, Sam Levine, Mark Kennedy, Robert Lence
Associate producer: David J. Steinberg
Editor: H. Lee Peterson
Art director: David Cutler
Voices:
Maggie: Roseanne Barr
Mrs. Caloway: Judi Dench
Grace: Jennifer Tilly
Buck: Cuba Gooding Jr.
Slim: Randy Quaid
Pearl: Carole Cook
Sheriff Brown: Richard Riehle
Rico: Charles Dennis
Rusty: G.W. Baily
Lucky Jack: Charles Haid
Audrey: Estelle Harris
Jeb: Joe Flaherty
Ollie: Charlie Dell
Wesley: Steve Buscemi
Patrick: Patrick Warburton
Annie: Ann Richards
Phil, Bill & Gil Willie: Sam Levine
Running time 74 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Opens
Friday, April 2
NEW YORK -- This amiable, Western-themed animated effort from the Walt Disney Co. is a clear attempt to return to the more lighthearted cartoon style that was so prevalent before its onslaught of stately musical epics. The tale of a group of animals determined to save their owner's dairy farm from the clutches of an evil outlaw, "Home on the Range" also boasts the return of composer Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin") to the creative team.
While not destined to assume a place in the Disney animation pantheon, the film should reasonably entertain the Small Fry during the current holiday season, though it is not likely to attract the adult crossover audience that can make for a breakout animated hit. It may also suffer from the competition, judging by the plaintive cry "When is it going to be Scooby-Doo?" heard from one tyke during the screening.
Featuring the sort of disparate voice-over cast emblematic of Disney cartoons, the film stars, among others, Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench, representing the most unusual screen pairing since, well, Barr and Meryl Streep in "She Devil". They voice the characters of cows Maggie and Mrs. Caloway, who, along with fellow cow Grace (Jennifer Tilly), fight to rescue their kindly owner Pearl (Carole Cook) from having her farm taken over by the dastardly Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid). Joining forces with a variety of other animals from the farm -- including horse Buck (Cuba Gooding Jr.), ace can-kicking goat Jeb (Joe Flaherty) and a variety of pigs, chickens, etc. -- they set out to capture Slim in the hope of garnering the reward for his head. Besides the expected dangers, they also must contend with competition from bounty hunter Rico (Charles Dennis, doing a Clint Eastwood homage).
The screenplay by co-directors Will Finn and John Sanford is a genial, jokey affair, filled with the requisite juvenile humor (belching pigs, etc.) and sprinkled with enough adult-oriented asides, like bulls leering after dairy cows ("Let me guess, you're a Taurus", one of the former comments), to qualify the film for a PG rating. While there are indeed some funny moments -- "We don't eat meat
it's like a professional courtesy," Barr's cow explains -- the humor generally lacks the manic hilarity of the Pixar efforts. And some of the gags, like Rico quoting a line from "Little Caesar" or a brief switch to widescreen that may be an in-joke reference to the company's own "Horse Whisperer", are likely to go over the heads of even the adult audience members.
The film's conventional, old-fashioned animation style generally gets the job done, with the anthropomorphic animal qualities rendered with the proper cute appeal. The voice talents do well by their characters. Barr scores consistent laughs as the sassy Maggie. Dench uses her elegant tones to good effect as the refined Mrs. Caloway. Gooding, as the vain horse, and Tilly, as plucky cow Grace, also are very enjoyable, no doubt because they seem so much like cartoon characters even in real life. Also very funny is Steve Buscemi, whose sleazy human character amusingly bears more than a slight resemblance to him.
Menken, besides his score, also has contributed several pleasant new songs (lyrics by Glenn Slater), none destined to be standards. They're sung by such stars as k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt and Tim McGraw.
Home on the Range
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Credits:
Directors-screenwriters: Will Finn, John Sanford
Producer: Alice Dewey Goldstone
Original score: Alan Menken
Original songs: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater
Story: Will Finn, John Sanford, Michael LaBash, Sam Levine, Mark Kennedy, Robert Lence
Associate producer: David J. Steinberg
Editor: H. Lee Peterson
Art director: David Cutler
Voices:
Maggie: Roseanne Barr
Mrs. Caloway: Judi Dench
Grace: Jennifer Tilly
Buck: Cuba Gooding Jr.
Slim: Randy Quaid
Pearl: Carole Cook
Sheriff Brown: Richard Riehle
Rico: Charles Dennis
Rusty: G.W. Baily
Lucky Jack: Charles Haid
Audrey: Estelle Harris
Jeb: Joe Flaherty
Ollie: Charlie Dell
Wesley: Steve Buscemi
Patrick: Patrick Warburton
Annie: Ann Richards
Phil, Bill & Gil Willie: Sam Levine
Running time 74 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Friday, April 2
NEW YORK -- This amiable, Western-themed animated effort from the Walt Disney Co. is a clear attempt to return to the more lighthearted cartoon style that was so prevalent before its onslaught of stately musical epics. The tale of a group of animals determined to save their owner's dairy farm from the clutches of an evil outlaw, "Home on the Range" also boasts the return of composer Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin") to the creative team.
While not destined to assume a place in the Disney animation pantheon, the film should reasonably entertain the Small Fry during the current holiday season, though it is not likely to attract the adult crossover audience that can make for a breakout animated hit. It may also suffer from the competition, judging by the plaintive cry "When is it going to be Scooby-Doo?" heard from one tyke during the screening.
Featuring the sort of disparate voice-over cast emblematic of Disney cartoons, the film stars, among others, Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench, representing the most unusual screen pairing since, well, Barr and Meryl Streep in "She Devil". They voice the characters of cows Maggie and Mrs. Caloway, who, along with fellow cow Grace (Jennifer Tilly), fight to rescue their kindly owner Pearl (Carole Cook) from having her farm taken over by the dastardly Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid). Joining forces with a variety of other animals from the farm -- including horse Buck (Cuba Gooding Jr.), ace can-kicking goat Jeb (Joe Flaherty) and a variety of pigs, chickens, etc. -- they set out to capture Slim in the hope of garnering the reward for his head. Besides the expected dangers, they also must contend with competition from bounty hunter Rico (Charles Dennis, doing a Clint Eastwood homage).
The screenplay by co-directors Will Finn and John Sanford is a genial, jokey affair, filled with the requisite juvenile humor (belching pigs, etc.) and sprinkled with enough adult-oriented asides, like bulls leering after dairy cows ("Let me guess, you're a Taurus", one of the former comments), to qualify the film for a PG rating. While there are indeed some funny moments -- "We don't eat meat
it's like a professional courtesy," Barr's cow explains -- the humor generally lacks the manic hilarity of the Pixar efforts. And some of the gags, like Rico quoting a line from "Little Caesar" or a brief switch to widescreen that may be an in-joke reference to the company's own "Horse Whisperer", are likely to go over the heads of even the adult audience members.
The film's conventional, old-fashioned animation style generally gets the job done, with the anthropomorphic animal qualities rendered with the proper cute appeal. The voice talents do well by their characters. Barr scores consistent laughs as the sassy Maggie. Dench uses her elegant tones to good effect as the refined Mrs. Caloway. Gooding, as the vain horse, and Tilly, as plucky cow Grace, also are very enjoyable, no doubt because they seem so much like cartoon characters even in real life. Also very funny is Steve Buscemi, whose sleazy human character amusingly bears more than a slight resemblance to him.
Menken, besides his score, also has contributed several pleasant new songs (lyrics by Glenn Slater), none destined to be standards. They're sung by such stars as k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt and Tim McGraw.
Home on the Range
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Credits:
Directors-screenwriters: Will Finn, John Sanford
Producer: Alice Dewey Goldstone
Original score: Alan Menken
Original songs: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater
Story: Will Finn, John Sanford, Michael LaBash, Sam Levine, Mark Kennedy, Robert Lence
Associate producer: David J. Steinberg
Editor: H. Lee Peterson
Art director: David Cutler
Voices:
Maggie: Roseanne Barr
Mrs. Caloway: Judi Dench
Grace: Jennifer Tilly
Buck: Cuba Gooding Jr.
Slim: Randy Quaid
Pearl: Carole Cook
Sheriff Brown: Richard Riehle
Rico: Charles Dennis
Rusty: G.W. Baily
Lucky Jack: Charles Haid
Audrey: Estelle Harris
Jeb: Joe Flaherty
Ollie: Charlie Dell
Wesley: Steve Buscemi
Patrick: Patrick Warburton
Annie: Ann Richards
Phil, Bill & Gil Willie: Sam Levine
Running time 74 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
The hero of Greek mythology with the "rippling pectorals" turns out to be a perfect choice for Disney's newest animated effort, a vast improvement over the lugubrious history lesson of "Pocahontas" and the turgid melodrama of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".
Boasting the usual superb animation, the humor one expects from the creators of "Aladdin" and a wonderful villain as voiced by James Woods, "Hercules" is an entertaining entry that will delight adults as much as children. It should do excellent business, probably topping the grosses of the past two summer efforts, although one shouldn't look for a blockbuster of "The Lion King" proportions.
Considering the character's enduring popularity, as shown by an endless succession of live- action films and television series, it's a wonder that the Disney people haven't gotten around to him until now. The heroes and villains of Greek mythology turn out to be a wonderful opportunity for both the animators and the screenwriters to flex their imaginations as well as offering the flexibility to provide generous doses of humorous pop culture references.
The story here begins with Hercules' birth, marked by a lavish party thrown by his parents, Zeus (voice of Rip Torn) and Hera (Samantha Eggar). Everyone is celebrating except for Hades (Woods), the Lord of the Underworld, who resents his position and who is plotting to overthrow Zeus.
First, he must get rid of Hercules, a potential threat. He dispatches his loyal underlings, Pain and Panic (Bobcat Goldthwait, Matt Frewer) to accomplish the task, but they bungle it, and the baby winds up on Earth, raised by the couple Amphitryon and Alcmene (Hal Holbrook, Barbara Barrie). The child suffers a difficult adolescence, shunned by his peers and the villagers because of his tendency for accidental mass destruction.
Looking to Zeus for answers, the adult Hercules (Tate Donovan) is told that he must prove himself a hero on Earth and enlist the help of Philoctetes, or "Phil" (Danny DeVito), a satyr, to help train him. Joined by Pegasus, his trusty winged horse, Hercules heads to Thebes, "The Big Olive", to accomplish his goals. This leads to the inevitable showdown with Hades, where the hero is nearly undone by his love for the beautiful Meg (Susan Egan, graduating to animation after playing Belle in Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast"), who, unbeknownst to him, works for the evil god.
The plot line, punctuated by six Alan Menken/David Zippel songs, offers plenty of highlights, such as Hercules' accidental devastation of a town square and his truly spectacular battle with the multiheaded Hydra. The witty screenplay skillfully parodies the conventions and characters of Greek mythology without being overly irreverent, and sharp-eyed adult viewers will delight in the contemporary references to "Karate Kid", "Midnight Cowboy", etc.
To Disney's credit, they even skewer their own overkill brand of merchandising in the "Hero to Zero" number, when Hercules turns into a media hero complete with his own workout scroll. Adults will also certainly get a kick from Hercules' reaction to seeing the play "Oedipus": "Man, I thought I had problems". The character of Hades is one of Disney's best and funniest villains yet, a fast-talking, fire-haired, dangerous schmoozer with the vocal cadences of a Hollywood agent. James Woods, in the best animated vocal turn since Robin Williams in "Aladdin", does full justice to the character.
The animation is, as usual, gorgeous, with the participation of British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe ("Pink Floyd -- The Wall") giving it a particularly stylish edge. Composer Alan Menken hasn't produced one of his best efforts, but even lesser Menken is better than most.
The film is enlivened by the superb vocal performances, from DeVito's hilarious turn as the rambunctious satyr to Torn's authoritative Zeus to Goldthwait and Frewer's addled villainous sidekicks. Donovan and Egan bring the right mixture of nobility and playfulness to their work as the romantic leads, and Charlton Heston begins the proceedings with a narration that lurches from portentous to funny; it's worth the price of admission just to hear him intone, "You go, girl".
Also on hand, serving as a Greek chorus, are the Muses, voiced by five Broadway veterans, including recent Tony winner Lillias White. The sole misstep is the character of Hermes, voiced (and drawn to look like) bandleader Paul Shaffer, hardly the ideal for animation immortality.
HERCULES
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
A Walt Disney Pictures presentation
Directors John Musker, Ron Clements
Producers Alice Dewey, John Musker, Ron Clements Screenplay Ron Clements,
John Musker, Bob Shaw,
Donald McEnery, Irence Mecchi
Music Alan Menken
Lyrics David Zippel
Original Score Alan Menken
Associate producer Kendra Haaland
Production designer Gerald Scarfe
Color/stereo
Voice talents:
Hercules Tate Donovan
Young Hercules, speaking Joshua Keaton
Young Hercules, singing Roger Bart
Phil Danny DeVito
Hades James Woods
Meg Susan Egan
Zeus Rip Torn
Hera Samantha Eggar
Running time -- 89 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
Boasting the usual superb animation, the humor one expects from the creators of "Aladdin" and a wonderful villain as voiced by James Woods, "Hercules" is an entertaining entry that will delight adults as much as children. It should do excellent business, probably topping the grosses of the past two summer efforts, although one shouldn't look for a blockbuster of "The Lion King" proportions.
Considering the character's enduring popularity, as shown by an endless succession of live- action films and television series, it's a wonder that the Disney people haven't gotten around to him until now. The heroes and villains of Greek mythology turn out to be a wonderful opportunity for both the animators and the screenwriters to flex their imaginations as well as offering the flexibility to provide generous doses of humorous pop culture references.
The story here begins with Hercules' birth, marked by a lavish party thrown by his parents, Zeus (voice of Rip Torn) and Hera (Samantha Eggar). Everyone is celebrating except for Hades (Woods), the Lord of the Underworld, who resents his position and who is plotting to overthrow Zeus.
First, he must get rid of Hercules, a potential threat. He dispatches his loyal underlings, Pain and Panic (Bobcat Goldthwait, Matt Frewer) to accomplish the task, but they bungle it, and the baby winds up on Earth, raised by the couple Amphitryon and Alcmene (Hal Holbrook, Barbara Barrie). The child suffers a difficult adolescence, shunned by his peers and the villagers because of his tendency for accidental mass destruction.
Looking to Zeus for answers, the adult Hercules (Tate Donovan) is told that he must prove himself a hero on Earth and enlist the help of Philoctetes, or "Phil" (Danny DeVito), a satyr, to help train him. Joined by Pegasus, his trusty winged horse, Hercules heads to Thebes, "The Big Olive", to accomplish his goals. This leads to the inevitable showdown with Hades, where the hero is nearly undone by his love for the beautiful Meg (Susan Egan, graduating to animation after playing Belle in Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast"), who, unbeknownst to him, works for the evil god.
The plot line, punctuated by six Alan Menken/David Zippel songs, offers plenty of highlights, such as Hercules' accidental devastation of a town square and his truly spectacular battle with the multiheaded Hydra. The witty screenplay skillfully parodies the conventions and characters of Greek mythology without being overly irreverent, and sharp-eyed adult viewers will delight in the contemporary references to "Karate Kid", "Midnight Cowboy", etc.
To Disney's credit, they even skewer their own overkill brand of merchandising in the "Hero to Zero" number, when Hercules turns into a media hero complete with his own workout scroll. Adults will also certainly get a kick from Hercules' reaction to seeing the play "Oedipus": "Man, I thought I had problems". The character of Hades is one of Disney's best and funniest villains yet, a fast-talking, fire-haired, dangerous schmoozer with the vocal cadences of a Hollywood agent. James Woods, in the best animated vocal turn since Robin Williams in "Aladdin", does full justice to the character.
The animation is, as usual, gorgeous, with the participation of British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe ("Pink Floyd -- The Wall") giving it a particularly stylish edge. Composer Alan Menken hasn't produced one of his best efforts, but even lesser Menken is better than most.
The film is enlivened by the superb vocal performances, from DeVito's hilarious turn as the rambunctious satyr to Torn's authoritative Zeus to Goldthwait and Frewer's addled villainous sidekicks. Donovan and Egan bring the right mixture of nobility and playfulness to their work as the romantic leads, and Charlton Heston begins the proceedings with a narration that lurches from portentous to funny; it's worth the price of admission just to hear him intone, "You go, girl".
Also on hand, serving as a Greek chorus, are the Muses, voiced by five Broadway veterans, including recent Tony winner Lillias White. The sole misstep is the character of Hermes, voiced (and drawn to look like) bandleader Paul Shaffer, hardly the ideal for animation immortality.
HERCULES
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
A Walt Disney Pictures presentation
Directors John Musker, Ron Clements
Producers Alice Dewey, John Musker, Ron Clements Screenplay Ron Clements,
John Musker, Bob Shaw,
Donald McEnery, Irence Mecchi
Music Alan Menken
Lyrics David Zippel
Original Score Alan Menken
Associate producer Kendra Haaland
Production designer Gerald Scarfe
Color/stereo
Voice talents:
Hercules Tate Donovan
Young Hercules, speaking Joshua Keaton
Young Hercules, singing Roger Bart
Phil Danny DeVito
Hades James Woods
Meg Susan Egan
Zeus Rip Torn
Hera Samantha Eggar
Running time -- 89 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
- 6/13/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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