SVS: “The Rescuers Down Under”

Today, I’m going to do something brave. Or, perhaps, something foolish.

I’m going to tell everyone what my favorite animated Disney film is. Even though past instances of this bravery (or is it foolishness?) have produced any and/or all of the following responses: stunned disbelief; righteous anger; awkward silence; unmitigated guffaws; derision; pity; thinly-veiled outrage; or the worst response of all, nothing.

Still, I forge ahead. Because even though I might never find anyone who loves this film as much as I do, my brave (foolish?) willingness to speak out and my enthusiasm on its behalf might win it a viewer or two that would otherwise pass it over. So…

…[deep breath]…

The Rescuers Down Under is streaming on NETFLIX INSTANT. And AMAZON INSTANT($) and VUDU($) and YOUTUBE($).

And it’s fantastic.

A poacher wants to capture a majestic and rare golden eagle, so he kidnaps the boy who knows how to find the bird, and the Rescuers must save the day.

Yep. That’s what I said. The Rescuers Down Under. Yes, I like it more than the original. Way more. Yes, I think it’s greatly underrated. And to this day, I cannot understand why it was such a box-office under-performer.

And yes, when I compare it to any other Disney animated feature — (which I do regularly, because even I can barely believe its position on my list) — I’m routinely astounded by how much more I like it than any given competitor. Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast are the only ones that have a ghost of a chance, really. (…although as Steven Greydanus reminds me, the most dangerous competition probably comes from The Emperor’s New Groove. A bit of a dark horse, ’tis true. But absolutely in my snarky wheelhouse.)

And no, I’m not even sorry.

“Not sorry,” you say; “just crazy.”

Perhaps. But here’s a (partial) list to try and explain why I’ve always loved it so:

• I dislike the musical numbers that seem such an ubiquitous part of the Disney Animation sub-genre. They feel so silly to me, lyrically. And musically, so slight. I just don’t like ’em.  Never have. And this movie doesn’t have ’em. Q.E.D. (I really don’t like The Black Cauldron, though. So non-singing isn’t everything.)
• Percival C. McLeach, memorably voice by Hollywood legend George C. Scott, is one of my all-time favorite villains — animated or no.
• Flying With Marahute, a scene that makes me catch my breath, even to this day.
• Relatedly, Bruce Broughton’s wonderful, wonderful score.

• Even in animated-and-generalized form, Australia’s outback is amazing.
• John Candy. Especially when he’s being prepped for surgery.
• My kids love watching this film almost as much as I do. Almost. Which means it’s a great family viewing experience.
• It’s the perfect balance of adventure/action and humor, for me. A text-book example of what a friend of mine once described as Kettle-Corn Cinema. Never lags; always fun to watch and pleasant to look at; doesn’t over-burden us with the cute-silly sidekicks or the “cleverness” of its “jokes.” And the story’s pretty solid, as well. (In fact, let’s just save this last bullet point for my Sure-To-Be-Equally-Controversial post about why I’ve always preferred Last Crusade over Lost Ark.)

And I’m done.

Why are you all backing away slowly?

My mental facilities are twice what yours are, ya pea brain! 

Attribution(s): All posters, publicity images, and movie stills are the property of Walt Disney Pictures and other respective production studios and distributors, and are intended for editorial use only.