Greece Is The Word
Disney Updates Hercules Myth

Disney's biggest competition has always been its own reputation. No matter how good their latest animated features may be, they have to live up to (and hopefully surpass) the box office grosses of their predecessors. For the record, Disney peaked with The Lion King in 1994 ($313 million domestic) and has been on a downward trend since. Now they have their hopes pinned on a hero in the most classical sense. But can Hercules rescue this damsel in distress?

Hercules has the makings of a great Disney animated feature. It is a classic story of heroism and sacrifice. The villain is Hades, god of the Underworld (voiced with Hollywood sleaze by veteran bad guy James Woods). The all-star cast includes Danny DeVito, Rip Torn, Bobcat Goldthwait, and Paul Schaffer. Most importantly, it returns to the classic Disney formula of funny gags and witty humor (something the past two features sorely lacked). Some of the best gags are off of Greek references, so brush up on your Homer and Sophocles before coming. Of course, the more subtle jokes (like the Roman numeral gag "Somebody call IX-I-I!") go right over the kids' heads, reminding the audience that Disney features are for adults, too.

Despite its strong aspirations, however, Hercules misses the mark in two traditionally strong categories for Disney: music and animation.

The musical soundtrack of Hercules is less than inspired. Although the Muses provide a wonderful R&B "Greek chorus," many of the lyrics are difficult to understand. As a result, some of the subtle humor is lost. The big number, "Go The Distance" (which Michael Bolton renders during the final credits) does not have the majesty which guaranteed "Beauty and the Beast," "A Whole New World," or "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" a place in movie music history. In fact, the best song (in my humble opinion) is sung by Meg (sexy voiced Susan Egan); a catchy little tune about being afraid to admit she's falling in love with our hero.

The animation in Hercules also seems flat. Although the scenes of Hades are well done, and the computer generated Hydra make you sit up and take notice, the scenes of Greece and even Mt. Olympus seem downright cartoonish. That may seem like a strange criticism for an animated feature, but I have come to expect high-quality human representations (even in caricature) and breathtaking scenic vistas. Where are the multi-layered forest shots, or the complexly shaded interiors? The trailers I've seen for this fall's release of Fox Animation's Anastasia are much more visually appealing.

Disney does its best to bring good wholesome humor and storytelling to the screen again. From the laughter I heard from children in the audience, they delivered. As a veteran Disney-phile, I have no problem recommending this movie for children and parents alike.

MY RATING: VI out of X.

RATED: G
RUN TIME: 87 min.