Inspired by the Charles Dickens classic Oliver Twist, Oliver & Company first hit American theaters in November of 1988; Oliver Twist had been adapted for the screen several times before but Walt Disney Pictures put their own unique twist on the story. Writers Jim Cox, Tim Disney, and James Mangold moved the story out of Victorian London and set it in the heart of eighties New York City. As further evidence that this was indeed the eighties, The Oliver & Company soundtrack is full of songs from big stars of the day: Huey Lewis, Billy Joel, Ruth Pointer (of the Pointer Sisters) and Bette Midler.
Oliver & Company did okay at the box office, earning $53.2 million domestically during its initial run. However, audience and critical reaction to the film was decidedly mixed. By the mid to late eighties, many of the folks referred to as the “original Nine Old” Men had migrated away from the studio and the new generation of great Disney animators wou8ldnt come to the fore until 1989’s The Little Mermaid. As a result, Oliver & Company sort of fell through the cracks and has never gotten the respect it deserves.
It’s true; the animation in this one seems a bit crude and amateurish. However, it couldn’t have been easy to convey the squalor of Dickens’ novel to gritty New York City. While the animation, characters, story and music were not as good as several Disney Pictures that came before it and can’t touch The Little Mermaid that would hit theaters in 1989, Oliver & Company is still above average. The problem for Disney was, after years of excellence, “above average” wasn’t good enough.
Singer Billy Joel voices Dodger, a carefree, cocky mongrel who claims to have a lot of street smarts. Dodger is the leader of a thriving animal stealing operation. The rest of the “gang” includes: a Chihuahua named Tito (Cheech Marin), an well mannered bulldog (Roscoe Lee Brown), and dumb Great Dane named Einstein (Richard Mulligan), with Bette Midler voicing a poodle and Joey Lawrence giving voice to the title character, Oliver. In this film, Oliver is an orange kitten, abandon in a box and left to fend for himself on the streets of New York City. Oliver is struggling, until Dodger comes along and helps him out. Eventually, Fagin welcomes Oliver to the gang. However, during one of the gang’s capers, Oliver gets separated from them. Oliver is rescued by Jenny Foxworth (Natalie Gregory), who takes him home and treats him as a pet. Jenny is a girl of privilege and wealth, and so it’s not long before Dodger and the gang “rescue” her and Fagin gets involved in a plan to rob that rich family blind.
Oliver is really quite an entertaining film. Director George Scribner does a good job at moving things along, so boredom never sets in. However, he doesn’t move things so fast that there’s no time for some good old fashion Disney emotion. As a viewer, you feel for Oliver and you want him to find a safe and happy home. Scribner seems to have a good feel for how to make the story, characters and music blend together. While I wouldn’t call Oliver & Company a bonafide classic, this 20th Anniversary Edition still deserves a place in any Disney fans DVD collection.
Frankly, I would have expected better for a 20th anniversary transfer. Much of the picture comes across soft and there is a sheen of graininess throughout the film. However, the colors are bright in the city scenes and the waterfront scenes really do standout. The film is presented in 1.66:1 widescreen and “enhanced” for 16×9 televisions.
The audio is more impressive with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 driving the music and distortion-free dialogue. Spanish and French language tracks are also provided.
There aren’t many extras expect for a few cartoon shorts: “Puss Café,” starring Pluto and friends, and “Pluto Rescues a Kitten and Saves the Day.” Other than that, it’s the same six-minute “Making of Oliver & Company” that was on a previous release, and the same two sing-along songs (“Why Should I worry?” and “Streets of Gold”). The only all-new feature is Oliver’s Big City Challenge Game. It’s a multi-level game for small children that’s not very difficult.
