Oliver & Company (1988) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: Oliver & Company
Year: 1988
Director: George Scribner
Country: US
Language: English

Oliver & Company was a box-office success upon release and actually did a lot of good for the company.  It was Disney’s return to musicals since The Fox & The Hound, it employed an increased amount of CGI (so much that it needed its own studio) and brought about the typical release schedule of one animated film per year. It was the last film before the big Disney Renaissance and, unfortunately, went through quite a difficult production. 

Inspired by Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. A homeless kitten named Oliver (Joey Lawrence), roams the streets of New York, where he is taken in by a gang of homeless mutts who survive by stealing from others. 

The development on Oliver & Company was difficult because the Nine Old Men (a group of animators who had worked for Disney since it's Golden Age) retired and a new, younger line of animators would have to take their place. This film had a different "feel" from all the other Disney features before it, mainly because it doesn't take place in some far off place, it screams 1980's New York. The animation is gritty, worn, and unfinished. The music fits the time period to a tee. 

I enjoyed Oliver & Company when I was younger (mid 90's), but in 2016 the film feels incredibly dated. The Mexican stereotype Tito (Cheech Marin) is one of the most annoying characters to ever be put on screen. I'd rather listen to Jar Jar Binks for two hours. The characters aren't really fleshed out; they feel like lame stereotypes that might have been welcome in the 1920's, but are far from enticing in the 80's. 

Oliver & Company feels like it would have made a great "made for tv" movie, but certainly should have never seen the light of day in theatres. It doesn't keep a consistent tone; going from sheer comedy one minute, to dark agony the next without proper development or transition. I must admit the picture does give off a good New York "feel", but ultimately I can thinking of two dozen more Disney flicks I'd rather re-watch than this.