cute, Innocent, and by far one of the silliest sports movies ever made, this is classic, slapstick Disney comedy nostalgia at it's most indicative. a sweet reminder of why so many of us were fond of Disney's humour while growing up. just like wholesomeness, cute charm, and imagination were Disney trademarks we came to expect, a quirky, off beat sense of humour was also something that embodied the Disney filmgoing experience of the Disney golden age. when the numerous children's audience flocked to the Saturday matinée to see a Disney film they usually expected it to be good for a few laughs. after all, the whole Disney enterprise's foundation in the beginning were cartoons.
that's pretty much what Disney's 'Athlete' is, like most live action Disney comedies, it's a cartoon show with real actors. everything here from characterization to the visual approach is played very broadly. even the African continent in the George of the Jungle cartoons by Jay Ward seemed more serious than this over the top depiction. Jan Michael Vincent's jungle boy Nanu is taken less seriously and more satirically than the Tarzan films.
the gags here are pretty funny and more memorable than the film is given credit for. many of the scenes with Vincent and his Tiger pet are appealing, cuddly, and endearing. especially the moment when JMV runs toward his love interest in clichéd slow mo', only to bypass her and throw himself in the arms of his little Tiger pal for a big screen kiss. very amusing and classic Disney. the scenes where Roscoe Lee brown enchants Tim Conway and miniaturizes him are very funny and pretty surreal. there is also a lot of funny stuff with voodoo dolls even though voodoo is not a African belief. more like Haiti.
some people might be uncomfortable with Roscoe Lee Brown's witch doctor and perceive it as mildly racist. i think that's taking things to seriously since the witch doctor role is done so broadly and doesn't amount to much more than a lot of "walla walla bing bang". besides, Brown's witch doctor has some very funny lines, especially in the scene where he meets with the America Medical Assoc. and begins making snide remarks and jabs at the American medical community.
all in all this isn't a great movie or a all time great comedy, but it is definitely a very cute movie a good Disney film. mostly that's what a Disney movie should boil down to, they should be ever so cute and feel like Disney above all. after all, Disney isn't 'South Park' and it shouldn't be. like all of Disney's classic baby boomer comedies, 'Athlete' manages to have humour with some edge, but it doesn't forsake family values or wholesomeness. definitely a must for anyone who likes Disney and cute Bengal kitties.
that's pretty much what Disney's 'Athlete' is, like most live action Disney comedies, it's a cartoon show with real actors. everything here from characterization to the visual approach is played very broadly. even the African continent in the George of the Jungle cartoons by Jay Ward seemed more serious than this over the top depiction. Jan Michael Vincent's jungle boy Nanu is taken less seriously and more satirically than the Tarzan films.
the gags here are pretty funny and more memorable than the film is given credit for. many of the scenes with Vincent and his Tiger pet are appealing, cuddly, and endearing. especially the moment when JMV runs toward his love interest in clichéd slow mo', only to bypass her and throw himself in the arms of his little Tiger pal for a big screen kiss. very amusing and classic Disney. the scenes where Roscoe Lee brown enchants Tim Conway and miniaturizes him are very funny and pretty surreal. there is also a lot of funny stuff with voodoo dolls even though voodoo is not a African belief. more like Haiti.
some people might be uncomfortable with Roscoe Lee Brown's witch doctor and perceive it as mildly racist. i think that's taking things to seriously since the witch doctor role is done so broadly and doesn't amount to much more than a lot of "walla walla bing bang". besides, Brown's witch doctor has some very funny lines, especially in the scene where he meets with the America Medical Assoc. and begins making snide remarks and jabs at the American medical community.
all in all this isn't a great movie or a all time great comedy, but it is definitely a very cute movie a good Disney film. mostly that's what a Disney movie should boil down to, they should be ever so cute and feel like Disney above all. after all, Disney isn't 'South Park' and it shouldn't be. like all of Disney's classic baby boomer comedies, 'Athlete' manages to have humour with some edge, but it doesn't forsake family values or wholesomeness. definitely a must for anyone who likes Disney and cute Bengal kitties.