Film Facts
Directed by Stephen Herek
Released in 1996
MPAA Rating: G
Reviewed by Mongo
Film Review - 101 Dalmatians
In my humble opinion, the Walt Disney Company has been in slump. Yes, they are making movies that a lot of people go to. Yes, they are very profitable. But why the hell are all their latest releases the same old story re-hashed? That is, other than this film.
This is a remake of the Disney 1961 animation of the same name. However, unlike the 1961 production, this is live action, and unlike 1961, the animals do not speak English. YES! This is a much better production than the original. The challenge of multiple animal characters that must communicate, but using animal language, demonstrates superior filmmaking skill.
The triumph of Dalmatians is Glenn Close. Her entrance as Cruella De Vil is no less impressive than Darth Vader walking into a maternity ward. She is evil and vain and sooooo wonderful to hate. Close builds as full a fleshed-out villain as you're going to find these days. She makes this movie.
Yes there are 101 dogs in this movie, and at one point in the plot, it causes a small bit of confusion. The only other critical comments I could offer is that Disney's computer-generated images look like computer-generated images. I could have done without these shots, but we're talking a very small part of the film.
Here is a film you can take your small children to that won't scare the crap out of them, and won't make you wish you had dropped speed during the trailers.