Day 45: Home on the Range

Late post is late.

Home on the Range (2004)

Starring: Roseanne Barr, Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilly, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Randy Quaid, Charles Dennis, Charles Haid, Carole Cook, Joe Flaherty, Steve Buscemi, Richard Riehle, Lance LeGault, G.W. Bailey, Patrick Warburton, Estelle Harris, Sam J. Levine, Ann Richards

Songs: "(You Ain't) Home on the Range," "Little Patch of Heaven," "Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo," "Will the Sun Ever Shine Again," "Wherever the Trail May Lead," "Anytime You Need a Friend"

Home on the Range is the forty-fifth Disney animated film.  It tells the story of three cows who try to capture a cattle thief for the reward money so their human can use it to save their farm.  The film is named for the country-western song of the same name, though the story isn't based on the song.

Like The Emperor's New Groove, this movie was completely retooled during its production.  The original idea was to be called Sweatin' Bullets, and it would have been a supernatural story about ghost cattle rustlers trying to kill off herds of cattle in revenge for the fact that they had been trampled to death in a stampede.  They're stopped by the rabbit Lucky Jack.  This idea was later felt to be too dark and dramatic, and would most certainly have resulted in a PG rating, so the movie was reworked into a western comedy with music.  The art style of the 1950s UPA studio was the inspiration for the art.

When this movie came out, I was in high school and in my "too old for Disney" phase.  But even so, I thought it looked a little silly.  When I did eventually see it a few years after it came out, I thought it was okay.  Definitely one of the weaker Disney outings, but honestly not terrible.  It's mostly watchable, though definitely a little silly.

What I Liked: The backgrounds.  They reminded me of the "Pecos Bill" segment of Melody Time.

What I Disliked: The higher than usual amount of gross-out humor.  It makes the movie feel like they're aiming it strictly at a younger audience, which shouldn't be the case with a Disney movie.  They aren't meant to be children's movies, they should be family movies... and there's a difference.

Should You Watch This Movie:  It wasn't a terrible movie, but by no means a must-see.  You can get away with skipping this one, IMO.