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| WDHE / Released August 21, 2012 |
One of the few highlights of Disney’s animated releases of the Seventies, The Rescuers is a charming, entertaining feature with excellent voice work from Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor and Carol Burnett. Based on the books by Margery Sharp, the film focuses on the adventures of Bernard (Newhart) and Miss Bianca (Gabor), two mice of the Rescue Aid Society search for a little girl kidnapped by unscrupulous treasure hunters. Fantastic characters, an exciting story and a slightly darker tone from previous Disney features sets this film apart. The sequel, The Rescuers Down Under, is serviceable and mildly entertaining, but can’t compare to the original film.
With more slapstick, early integration of computer generated animation, more of an emphasis on celebrity voices and inconsistent design, The Rescuers Down Under is a far more dated film. Extras include a deleted song, a ‘Silly Symphony’ short, a 1952 Academy Award winning Disney True-Life Adventure “Water Birds,” a featurette and a sing-a-long. For older fans revisiting The Rescuers is truly a wonderful experience, with the film truly living up to the dangerous recollection of nostalgia; Younger fans will likely be happy to revisit both films and for the newest and youngest viewers both films are worth their time. The Rescuers is a sometime forgotten Disney classic, but shouldn’t be. Having this and it’s less engaging sequel are, however, worth every penny. Highly recommended.
