Toon Talk: Cinderella 2
Page 2 of 3
(c) Disney
Chapter two, titled Tall Tail, focuses on Jaq (Rob Paulsen). Now that she is a princess, the little mouse feels that he can't help his "Cinderelly". He wishes that he were human and, with a little help from the Fairy Godmother, becomes one. But, in his new form (think Ichabod Crane's younger brother), he is unrecognized by Cinderella and all his other friends, including best pal Gus (Corey Burton) and new love interest Mary Mouse (also voiced by Russi Taylor); everyone, that is, except Pom Pom, the prissy palace pussycat, who continues to stalk him. Needless to say, Jaq eventually learns his lesson in time to save the day.
An Uncommon Romance, the third and final story, shines a spotlight on an unlikely supporting player from the original Cinderella: Anastasia (voiced by the always delightful Tress MacNeille), one of the nasty stepsisters. Yet another Royal Ball is approaching, and Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Susanne Blakeslee), is naturally preparing her two homely daughters for the big event in hopes of finding them suitors. But a faithful trip to the village yields the unexpected, as Anastasia stumbles upon a humble baker (also voiced by Paulsen) and it's love at first site. As is expected, Lady Tremaine forbids Anastasia to see such a "commoner". Witness to this all, Cinderella (apparently forgetting all the horrific things her stepfamily did to her through the years), steps in as matchmaker to ensure a "happily ever after" for Anastasia. (Cinderella isn't the only character to forget past wrongs done to them in this story, as Jaq and the other mice help Lucifer woo the heart of Pom Pom in a predictable subplot.)
The animation, produced by Disney Television Animation, is as flat as would be expected from such a production, although a 3-D CGI ferris wheel does appear in the fairground scenes in the second segment. And while the first film made magic animating everything from bubbles to pumpkins, no such opportunities are exploited here. This lack of sparkle is particularly evident in the scenes involving the Fairy Godmother, who is surprisingly unimpressive in her acts of prestidigitation here.
The original Cinderella was filled with such delightful songs by Mack David, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman as the classic "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" and the Oscar-nominated "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo". Both of these songs can be heard in the underscore, and the later is treated to new lyrics in the interstitial segments.
There are four new songs in Cinderella II, but apparently the filmmakers are still stuck on the idea that standard soundtrack ditties sung by pop stars, and not the actual characters, is a good idea. Note to Disney: it worked for Tarzan and the Toy Story movies, but enough is enough.
At least Phil Collins and Randy Newman are established singer/songwriters. Here, we are stuck listening to second-rate Britney Spears-wannabe Brooke Allison warbling such tracks as forgettable as their disposable titles: "Follow Your Heart", "The World Is Looking Up to You" and "It's What's Inside That Counts". Even worse is the bubble gum pop nightmare of an end credit song, "Put It Together", which presumptuously incorporates lyrics from "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", with expectedly woeful results.