The Aristocats (December 24, 1970)

This film was a breath of fresh air after watching so many similar films from the 1940s (having skipped the golden age of Disney films when I reviewed this film because I had watched them previously). It reminds me of a childhood favorite film of mine, Lady and the Tramp, though set in Paris instead of a small Midwestern American town. The Aristocats is visually stunning with charming designs and great music. I enjoyed the jazz fell and the City of Lights always makes for a breathtaking setting. The characters, on the other hand, varied from enjoyable (O’Malley and Marie) to fairly bland (the other kittens and their mother, Duchess) to downright unbearable (three geese named Abigail and Amelia Gabble and their uncle Waldo). The butler of the owner of Duchess and her kittens is dim-witted choosing to drug the cats with sleeping pills and catnap them to the countryside where, hopefully, no one finds them so he can inherit the owner’s vast fortune. He could have gone about his plan by killing the cats or shipping them somewhere far away, but then there would be no plot. Ultimately, I enjoy the simple romance of The Lady and the Tramp, free from the hindrance of children (and including a superior song, Bella Notte!) to The Aristocats. This does not mean this movie is not worth watching as it has enjoyable moments and songs but, I believe, it is outclassed by other Disney classics from earlier on.

Final Rating: 5.5/10