Have you ever watched a movie only to feel absolutely nothing in return? The Mouse and his Child would fit that mold well, for it just might be one of the most boring children's films of all time. Created by Sanrio and based on the Russell Hoban novel, the movie didn't seem to attract much of an audience on its release in 1977 (or '78), and I'm not even sure if it gained much of a following afterward (the film is yet to even be released on DVD in America). To be honest, after viewing it, I don't know who would be engaged in this movie, because it stands as a visual representation of all talk and no show.
The film centers around a wind-up toy mouse and son bound together who end up falling out of their toy shop home and land in the trash. From there on, they are enslaved by an evil slave laboring rat named Manny, a psychic frog, and a whole series of independent self-winding toys, all to form a family of their own. Interesting albeit simple premise enough, and with themes of breaking conformity, slave labor, and the psychological conditions of being a toy in mind, these all sound like the makings of a wonderful tale of self discovery. Unfortunately, the movie does nothing with these ideas to make them worth sitting through nearly 90 minutes of runtime, and the whole feature is just spent on the characters telling their goals, actions and potential outcomes, thus making the experience a chore to sit through. Considering this was based on a children's book where the written text matters more than any illustrations, it seems like screenwriter Carol Monpere chose the worst route by copying the book word for word rather than translating the material into an actual film, because showing is more important than telling.
If there is any praise to give the movie, at least the animation looks like it came out of a children's book, with grimey yet pristine visuals, cute character animation, distinctive character designs, and the occasional impressive effect. Also, there's a surprisingly broad amount of talent on board from Peter Ustinov as the flourishing Manny, Cloris Leachman as the hammy green bird Euterpe, Andy Devine as the witty psychic Frog, Sally Kellerman as the Seal, John Carradine as the Tramp, so on and so forth. It's just too bad that the pacing and story are so underwhelming that their talents feel more like wasted energy than anything else. There are even musical numbers in the movie, but I cannot even tell you what they are; they're so forgettable. You know a movie is so lackluster that even when it attempts to go into dark territory, like the Mice getting into constant peril and danger from Manny and other animals, it feels more downplayed and safe than actually life-threatening. The best type of children's media know how to elicit multiple emotions in their execution; this film only elicits one: ennui.
No matter how much care and talent was put into The Mouse and his Child, it can't ever make up for its tedious pacing, sluggish story with very little momentum, conceptually interesting characters with nothing to offer, and lack of a proper audience in mind. Truth be told, I don't know who would find this movie worth watching, or even entertaining. Children wouldn't understand the bleak, gray, rat-ridden settings, younger children could be scared by it instantly, adults wouldn't find any value in any of the characters, and young adults would have better things on their mind. And believe me, there are far better children's films worth your time than this.
The film centers around a wind-up toy mouse and son bound together who end up falling out of their toy shop home and land in the trash. From there on, they are enslaved by an evil slave laboring rat named Manny, a psychic frog, and a whole series of independent self-winding toys, all to form a family of their own. Interesting albeit simple premise enough, and with themes of breaking conformity, slave labor, and the psychological conditions of being a toy in mind, these all sound like the makings of a wonderful tale of self discovery. Unfortunately, the movie does nothing with these ideas to make them worth sitting through nearly 90 minutes of runtime, and the whole feature is just spent on the characters telling their goals, actions and potential outcomes, thus making the experience a chore to sit through. Considering this was based on a children's book where the written text matters more than any illustrations, it seems like screenwriter Carol Monpere chose the worst route by copying the book word for word rather than translating the material into an actual film, because showing is more important than telling.
If there is any praise to give the movie, at least the animation looks like it came out of a children's book, with grimey yet pristine visuals, cute character animation, distinctive character designs, and the occasional impressive effect. Also, there's a surprisingly broad amount of talent on board from Peter Ustinov as the flourishing Manny, Cloris Leachman as the hammy green bird Euterpe, Andy Devine as the witty psychic Frog, Sally Kellerman as the Seal, John Carradine as the Tramp, so on and so forth. It's just too bad that the pacing and story are so underwhelming that their talents feel more like wasted energy than anything else. There are even musical numbers in the movie, but I cannot even tell you what they are; they're so forgettable. You know a movie is so lackluster that even when it attempts to go into dark territory, like the Mice getting into constant peril and danger from Manny and other animals, it feels more downplayed and safe than actually life-threatening. The best type of children's media know how to elicit multiple emotions in their execution; this film only elicits one: ennui.
No matter how much care and talent was put into The Mouse and his Child, it can't ever make up for its tedious pacing, sluggish story with very little momentum, conceptually interesting characters with nothing to offer, and lack of a proper audience in mind. Truth be told, I don't know who would find this movie worth watching, or even entertaining. Children wouldn't understand the bleak, gray, rat-ridden settings, younger children could be scared by it instantly, adults wouldn't find any value in any of the characters, and young adults would have better things on their mind. And believe me, there are far better children's films worth your time than this.