Hercules
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Disney's HERCULES never reaches the heights of its creator's previous films, "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid", but it still serves up plenty of family fun, some great songs and one of James Woods' best roles.
Grossing a quarter of a billion dollars back in 1997 is no small feat and the film retains a great following, even becoming a theatrical musical that's still playing (but about to close) on London's West End.
Through music and animation, we learn that baby Hercules, the son of Zeus, was stripped of his immortality as a baby and he must become a true hero to reclaim his status.
It's a fun bit, well told. Charlton Heston starts with some powerful narration and then introduces the girl group The Muses to sing the legend's tale. Hearing Heston barrel "You Go Girls" sets the right comic tone and The Muses, led by LaChanze & Lillias White are excellent.
These films live and die by their villains and HERCULES features one of the best, Hades, played to the hilt by a superb James Woods. Hades is the one who has turned our hero into a half mortal/half-god, plotting to take control.
Hercules transformation from youth to a young man seeking the path to heroism is a lot of fun and serves up an all-time Disney classic song, "Go The Distance", sung by Roger Bart of "The Producers" on Broadway fame.
Once he's grown, he's voiced by Tate Donovan, who's frankly my one major complaint about the film, he's lackluster and pretty vanilla in the role, especially comped to the teenage Herc voiced by Bart.
He's got some great sidekicks along the way, including Pegasus and his personal trainer Phil, a tiny, funny creature well voiced by Danny DeVito. DeVito delivers the one liners and songs with hilarious energy, especially "One Last Hope".
Keith David is another standout at Apollo The Sun God. I'd know that voice anywhere, he's terrific.
The filmmakers have said that they originally envisioned Hades as a slow moving, menacing character until Woods blew them away with his fast paced patter and ad libs. Woods has never been better.
Bobcat Goldthwait brings his instantly recognizable voice to evil sidekick Pain, alongside Matt Frewer's Panic.
The adults in the audience will find plenty to enjoy in Hades' constant one liner asides, like his reference to half time at the film's midway point and references to everything from "Midnight Cowboy" to "The Lion King".
The music and songs by Alan Menken and David Zippel are a great blend of show tunes and gospel that really pop throughout the film.
While it never quite reaches the heights of "Mermaid" or "Aladdin", it's another great film from the brilliant animated Disney renaissance of the 1990's.
When it comes to family entertainment, HERCULES definitely goes the distance, all the way to a B.
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