Okay, settle back into that comfy armchair, maybe imagine the faint hum of a CRT and the satisfying clunk of a VHS tape slotting into the VCR. Today, we're digging out a slightly different kind of adventure tape, one that swapped explosions and high-tech gadgets for… well, a puppy in a basket tied to balloons. Let's revisit the earnest, ambitious, and undeniably unique Australian family film, Napoleon from 1995.
Forget the usual action heroes; our protagonist here is Muffin, a Golden Retriever puppy living the suburban dream who secretly yearns for the wild and insists on being called Napoleon. Voiced with wide-eyed enthusiasm by the young Australian actor Jamie Croft, Napoleon isn't content chasing tennis balls. He dreams of joining the 'wild dogs' he hears howling in the distance. This isn't your typical 'boy and his dog' story; it's purely 'dog and his existential suburban angst', leading to one of the more whimsical inciting incidents you'll find on a Blockbuster shelf: Napoleon climbs into a balloon-adorned basket, the tether snaps, and he's suddenly whisked away towards the vast Australian wilderness.
A Paws-itively Ambitious Undertaking
What truly set Napoleon apart, especially watching it back then, was its commitment to telling the story almost entirely from a ground-level, animal perspective. Director Mario Andreacchio (who would later give us The Real Macaw in 1998), along with co-writers Michael Bourchier and Mark Saltzman, crafted a narrative experienced through Napoleon's eyes – and ears. This meant innovative filming techniques, utilizing specially designed low-slung camera rigs to capture that authentic puppy-height view of the world. It gives the film a distinct visual style, immersing you in Napoleon’s journey through towering grass and unfamiliar terrain.
And the sheer scale of the animal involvement? It’s genuinely impressive, especially in our current CGI-heavy era. Get this: reportedly over 1,500 trained animals were utilized during production across locations in South Australia and Sydney! Think about coordinating that logistical feat. It wasn't just dogs; Napoleon encounters a menagerie of Aussie critters, each playing a role in his odyssey. There's the sage, slightly grumpy Lorikeet named Birdo (voiced beautifully by the wonderful stage actor Philip Quast) who becomes Napoleon's reluctant guide, and a host of others including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, lizards, and even the intimidating Dingoes Napoleon initially sought. Watching it now, you appreciate the patience and skill involved in capturing those performances, relying on clever editing, animal training, and practical ingenuity rather than digital trickery.
Voices in the Wilderness
The voice cast adds another layer of charm. Jamie Croft captures Napoleon's blend of naive bravery and vulnerability perfectly. Philip Quast brings a necessary world-weariness and eventual warmth to Birdo. And then there's the delightful cameo from the legendary Barry Humphries (yes, Dame Edna herself!) voicing a flamboyant and slightly neurotic Galah. These performances elevate the animal characters beyond mere talking props, giving them distinct personalities that drive the simple but effective narrative forward. Remember that chatty Galah? His brief appearance was certainly a memorable moment of levity.
A Journey Home, Straight from the 90s
Let's be honest, the plot itself is fairly straightforward: puppy gets lost, has adventures, learns lessons about courage and himself, and ultimately realizes the value of home. It follows a familiar episodic structure as Napoleon moves from one encounter to the next, facing challenges like a territorial feral cat and learning about the realities of the 'wild'. It doesn't break new ground thematically, focusing on universally understood childhood feelings of wanting independence while still needing security.
But its charm lies in its execution and its very 90s earnestness. It was a film that felt genuinely made for kids, without excessive cynicism or winking irony. It tapped into that pure childhood fantasy of understanding and talking to animals, of embarking on a grand adventure just beyond the backyard fence. It might seem a bit quaint compared to today's hyper-kinetic family entertainment, but there's a gentle warmth to Napoleon that still resonates. It sits comfortably alongside other live-action animal adventures of the era, perhaps less iconic than Homeward Bound (1993) but possessing its own unique Australian flavour and visual ambition. It didn’t set the box office alight (precise figures are tricky to pin down, but it was a modest performer internationally via distributors like Samuel Goldwyn), yet it carved out a niche for itself on video store shelves, waiting to be discovered by young adventurers.
VHS Heaven Rating: 6/10
Napoleon is a film powered by a charmingly simple premise and some genuinely impressive animal wrangling. Its unique puppy-level perspective and reliance on practical filmmaking give it a distinct identity. While the story is predictable and perhaps lacks the dramatic heft or comedic sparkle of some bigger family hits from the era, its earnest heart, endearing voice work, and sheer ambition in bringing its animal world to life make it a worthwhile trip down memory lane. It’s a gentle adventure that captures a specific kind of 90s family movie magic – sincere, straightforward, and full of furry faces.
It might not be the epic its namesake conjures, but for a generation of kids glued to the TV, this little puppy’s big adventure was a delightful escape into a world just beyond the garden gate. A sweet reminder that sometimes, the grandest journeys start with the smallest paws.