Jim on Film
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(c) Disney

Audrey, Atlantis: The Lost Empire—In concept, Audrey seems like a forced politically correct fit into the film Atlantis: The Lost Empire. She’s a Hispanic teenaged mechanic during an era when teenaged girls were still wearing corsets. What makes Audrey work, however, is that she’s such an incredibly fun character. In an era where politically correct in film seems increasingly to be equated with child’s fare, fun can buy a character a heck of a lot. Audrey is one tough chick, physically intimidating Milo when he gets in her way and even declaring that “I used to take lunch money from guys like this�? when she first meets Milo. But like any tough kid, she’s got a soft spot. She’s still a kid, and when she sees Milo standing alone for what is right, she is the first of his compadres to stand up and do the right thing. It is the fiery quality that allowed Audrey to succeed as a mechanic during the budding years of automobiles and during a time when women just didn’t envision working on engines that allows her to also be the first to stand bravely beside Milo against Rourke and to also make the first move to fight with Milo and “see that he doesn’t hurt himself.�? Audrey is more than a politically correct insertion; she is a fun character who acts and reacts consistently with her character development.

During the campsite conversation, we learn Audrey’s story—that her father wanted sons, so he raised his two daughters to basically act tough and think like sons. That may help explain to the audience why there’s a Hispanic female mechanic, but by that time, no one in the audience really cares. Audrey is just too much fun to criticize. It was unfortunate that Audrey really got left out of the marketing drive for the film, seeming to only be relegated to a Happy Meal toy. Fans of the film know her real value, though, and we must give kudos to the story people for giving her a unique personality, to Jacqueline Obradors for giving her voice, and to Anne Marie Bardwell for making her such an animated gem.

(c) Disney

Mrs. Packard, Atlantis: The Lost Empire—If Mrs. Packard is really David Pruiksma’s Disney swan song, which is probably likely under the current regime, he can remain in semi-retirement knowing that he went out a note so high, even Sandi Patty would struggle to hit it. Not surprisingly, there wasn’t much merchandise made of a chain smoking old broad like Mrs. Packard, but that was a shame because she’s a blast. Much of this comes from her gravely deadpan voice brought to life by Florence Stanley and the great lines given to her by the story department, but that deadpan voice is equaled by her animation, which is both expressive and minimal. Sometimes, she seems to hardly move, except for her mouth and the hand holding her cigarette, always maintaining an expression of amusing sour discontent. When you have Mrs. Packard on board for laughs, there is no need for a cute animal sidekick.