Jim On Film
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(c) Disney
Cheetah (1989)--Two American teenagers visiting in Africa discover a cheetah cub when her mother has been killed by poachers. They take the cub to their parents and raise her until the day they must leave the continent and set her free. Before they can do so, poachers steal the animal to race her against greyhounds. Without their parents’ knowledge, the two teens, with the help of a tribal friend, travel through the African wilderness to save her.
Executive produced by Roy E. Disney, who started working for the company in the 1950s in many capacities with various True-Life Adventure films and other animal-themed productions, Cheetah is Disney adventure at its best. Filled with a trio of talented young actors (Lucy Deakins, Keith Coogan, and Collin Mothupi) and a beautiful animal, Cheetah is a fun, youth-empowering journey where two American teenagers refuse to take the easy way out of a situation but do what’s right, despite the consequences. And that’s a message we can all use today.
Of course, there are other reasons for watching this great flick, such as hearing the words Hakuna Matata sung in once scene long before The Lion King would be released or seeing kids get excited over an Atari in another.
For this patient fan, what is most exciting is that on May 21, for the first time ever, not only will Cheetah be released to own on video but on DVD as well.
(c) Disney
Newsies (1992)--When Newsies was first released, film critics would have stood in line for hours--not to view the film, of course, but to think of scathingly bitter words to use in reviews. Whatever their goal, it worked to an extent; in its theatrical release, Newsies couldn’t have made less money had Disney paid people to see it.
But once it hit video store shelves, the film earned a large following among the youth to whom it was targeted. It concerns the true story of a group of newsboys in New York City in the late 1890s who lead a strike against an increase in the price they pay for their papers. With a strong David vs. Goliath theme, Newsies was a musical for a new generation. It boasts songs by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman that are a welcome addition to the studio’s repertoire of great, memorable tunes, particularly Christian Bale’s ballad "Sante Fe." To compliment the music, the choreography is youthful, incorporating jumps and kicks, perfectly created for the young and lively cast. The care that the filmmakers took in this film is also seen in the lavishly recreated sets, eye-popping mattes, and authentic costuming. After watching Newsies on DVD again, now as an adult, I enjoyed it even more.
It does contain a sprinkling of bad language, kids partaking in some very un-Disneylike behavior (smoking and drinking), and violence, all which gave some critics pause, but it is still a true Disney treat.
As part of the commentary, director and co-choreographer Kenny Ortega said that he wanted to educate the young actors on the grand history of film musicals. Unfortunately, he forgot to tell them the Disney rule. Unless its name is Mary Poppins, Disney live-action musicals are never successful . . . at first.
Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken (1991)--Part adventure, part drama, and part romance, Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken is the dictionary definition of the classic Disney live-action film. Based on a true story, Sonora Webster is a teenager during the Depression who runs away to join a traveling act that consists of a girl on a diving horse. Despite being turned down for her age and size, she fights hard to prove herself worthy of the job. While doing so, she falls in love with Al, the son of the man who owns the act. Once she begins to achieve the success she’s dreamed of, an accident leaves her blinded. But in true Disney fashion, Sonora proves that wild hearts really can’t be broken.
Gabrielle Anwar is perfect as the persistent and plucky Sonora who has our hearts with the first telling of her name, "Sonora, Sonora Webster." What’s amazing to see is how she transforms very carefully from the childish girl at the beginning of the movie to the mature but blinded Sonora in the end. Her on-screen romance is with the kind-hearted Al, played by Michael Schoeffling, with whom she shares a gentle romantic chemistry. Completing the cast is Cliff Robertson as Dr. Carver, Al’s distant and harsh father, the owner of the act.
In addition to being well-cast, the film begins with images from the Depression era, and once the story begins, it never seems to break from that aura, though color and sound has been added. Because of this, we are given a perfectly wrapped drama that pulls us in with the depth of its characters, sweetened by the perfectly recreated atmosphere.