Okay, VHS voyagers, let’s rewind to a time when Disney animation was finding its feet again, just before the tidal wave of its Renaissance hit. It was 1988, the neon was bright, the pop music was synthesised, and nestled amongst the gritty realism of late 80s New York City, we found… a singing kitten? Yes, we’re talking about Oliver & Company, a film that felt uniquely of its time, a fascinating blend of classic storytelling and contemporary cool that probably spun many times in your VCR.
### Dickens Meets Dodger Down on 5th Avenue
Directed by George Scribner, Oliver & Company took a rather bold swing, transplanting Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist into the concrete jungle of modern-day Manhattan, swapping workhouses for dog gangs and orphanages for cardboard boxes. Our hero is Oliver (voiced with youthful earnestness by a young Joey Lawrence), a lost kitten navigating the perilous city streets. He soon falls in with a charismatic pack of stray dogs led by the effortlessly cool Jack Russell terrier, Dodger. And who better to voice this street-smart canine than the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel, in his only animated film role? Joel brings an undeniable swagger to Dodger, making "Why Should I Worry?" not just a song, but an anthem for canine independence that probably had kids everywhere trying to emulate that confident strut.
The gang operates under the reluctant supervision of Fagin (voiced by Dom DeLuise, a familiar voice to animation fans from films like An American Tail), a down-on-his-luck human perpetually indebted to the menacing loan shark Sykes (voiced with chilling quietude by Robert Loggia). The crew is rounded out by Tito, the hyperactive Chihuahua voiced with scene-stealing energy by Cheech Marin; Einstein, the gentle Great Dane (Richard Mulligan); Rita, the elegant Saluki (Sherilyn Fenn); and Francis, the bulldog with a penchant for Shakespeare (Roscoe Lee Browne). It's a vibrant, eclectic mix that provides much of the film's humour and heart.
### A Different Kind of Disney Magic
Visually, Oliver & Company stands as an interesting waypoint in Disney history. It doesn’t quite have the polished fluidity of the Renaissance films that would follow (The Little Mermaid arrived just one year later), but it possesses a distinct energy. The animation has a slightly rougher, sketchier quality in places, which actually suits the urban setting quite well. You could almost feel the grit of the city streets through the screen, a far cry from the fairytale castles of earlier Disney eras.
This was also one of the first Disney animated features to make significant use of computer animation – a fascinating fact for us retro tech fans! While characters remained hand-drawn, the burgeoning CGI department flexed its muscles on vehicles, architectural elements like the Brooklyn Bridge, and complex sequences like the climactic subway chase. It was a careful integration, aiming to enhance the dynamism without overshadowing the traditional craft. Watching it now, you can spot those early digital footprints, a glimpse into the future of animation taking shape right there in 1988. It was a considerable effort for the time, contributing to a budget of around $31 million, which thankfully paid off with a solid $74 million initial box office run, making it Disney's most successful animated feature launch in over a decade.
### That Soundtrack, Though!
Let’s be honest, the music is a huge part of Oliver & Company’s enduring appeal. Beyond Billy Joel's iconic number, the soundtrack is packed with 80s pop power. We get Huey Lewis belting out the opening track "Once Upon a Time in New York City," setting the stage perfectly. And then there's the divine Bette Midler as Georgette, the pampered poodle belonging to Oliver's eventual human companion, Jenny. Midler absolutely owns her number, "Perfect Isn't Easy," delivering a diva performance that’s pure camp delight. The songs feel less like timeless fairytale ballads and more like actual pop tunes grafted onto the narrative – a choice that firmly roots the film in its era, for better or worse, but undeniably gives it a unique flavour.
The screenplay, credited to Jim Cox, Timothy J. Disney (yes, of that Disney family), and James Mangold (who would later direct acclaimed films like Walk the Line, Logan, and Ford v Ferrari – quite the career trajectory!), keeps things moving at a brisk pace. It simplifies the Dickens source material considerably, focusing more on the found-family dynamics and the adventure aspects. While it might lack the emotional depth of some Disney heavy-hitters, it delivers on charm and energy.
### A Bridge Between Eras
Oliver & Company often gets overshadowed by the films that came immediately after, but it plays a crucial role. It showed Disney was willing to experiment, to blend classic formulas with contemporary styles, and to embrace a slightly edgier tone (Sykes remains a genuinely intimidating villain). It proved there was still a hunger for animation, paving the way for the colossal success of The Little Mermaid and the subsequent Renaissance. It was a necessary step, a film finding its footing while still delivering a fun, engaging experience.
Does it hold up perfectly? Maybe not entirely. Some of the 80s aesthetic feels distinctly dated now, and the plot resolution feels a tad convenient. But the characters remain endearing, the songs are catchy earworms, and the unique New York atmosphere still crackles with a certain energy. It’s a snapshot of a specific moment, both in the real world and in Disney’s own history.
VHS Heaven Rating: 7/10
This score reflects the film's undeniable charm, fantastic voice cast, killer soundtrack, and its interesting place in the Disney timeline. It’s not a flawless masterpiece, and its 80s-ness is perhaps its most defining (and occasionally dated) feature. However, the sheer energy, the memorable characters like Dodger and Tito, and those fantastic songs earn it a solid place in the nostalgia archives. It might not be the first Disney tape you reach for, but when you do, it's like catching up with a cool, slightly scrappy old friend.
For a dose of animated 80s NYC attitude, you could do far worse than spending an evening with Oliver and his canine crew – just try not to get "Why Should I Worry?" stuck in your head for the next week. Good luck with that!