Some adventures just feel big, don't they? Even watching them on a fuzzy CRT screen back in the day, certain films managed to burst out of the box, filling the room with a sense of grand scale and rollicking fun. DreamWorks Animation's The Road to El Dorado (2000) arrived right at the turn of the millennium, maybe a touch past our usual 80s/90s wheelhouse here at VHS Heaven, but its spirit feels perfectly attuned to the kind of bright, energetic escapades we grew up renting every weekend. It aimed for spectacle, laughs, and maybe just a little bit of that cinematic gold.
Its premise is classic adventure yarn material: two charismatic Spanish con artists, Miguel and Tulio, accidentally find themselves in possession of a map to the legendary lost city of gold, El Dorado. Through a series of improbable, hilarious events involving loaded dice, a stolen map, and an unexpected stowaway journey aboard Cortés's fleet, they actually find it. Mistaken for gods by the city's inhabitants, they hatch a plan to play along just long enough to make off with a fortune. What could possibly go wrong?
Partners in Glorious Crime
The absolute heart and soul of this movie lies in the phenomenal voice chemistry between Kevin Kline as the pragmatic, ever-scheming Tulio and Kenneth Branagh as the more idealistic, adventure-loving Miguel. Reportedly, Kline and Branagh recorded many of their lines together, a practice less common in animation but one that pays off spectacularly here. Their rapid-fire banter, overlapping dialogue, and genuine sense of camaraderie feel completely authentic. You believe these two have been pulling scams together for years. Kline, a master of comedic timing (just think of A Fish Called Wanda), and Branagh, often known for his Shakespearean gravitas but clearly having a blast here, are simply perfect. They elevate what could have been standard buddy-comedy tropes into something truly special and endlessly watchable. Add in the fiery, clever Chel, voiced with sharp wit by Rosie Perez, who quickly sees through their divine facade but decides to play along for her own reasons, and you have a central trio dynamic that crackles with energy.
Behind the script were Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, a writing duo who certainly knew their way around animated adventures, having penned Disney's Aladdin (1992) and later hitting massive success with Shrek (2001) and the Pirates of the Caribbean series. You can feel their signature blend of witty dialogue, clever plot mechanics, and genuine heart throughout El Dorado. The humor often skews a bit more towards PG territory than its Disney contemporaries, with more suggestive banter and slightly higher stakes, which felt refreshingly different at the time.
A Glimmering City, A Stumbling Giant?
Visually, The Road to El Dorado is often stunning. Directed by Bibo Bergeron (who later directed Shark Tale) and Don Paul, the film blends gorgeous traditional hand-drawn animation, particularly for the expressive character work, with burgeoning CGI technology for environments and effects. The reveal of El Dorado itself is a breathtaking moment, a cascade of gold and vibrant colours. The city feels lush, alive, and appropriately awe-inspiring. Some of the early CGI, like the massive stone jaguar brought to life by the ambitious high priest Tzekel-Kan (voiced with menace by Armand Assante), might look a little dated now, but back then? It felt cutting-edge and genuinely thrilling on the big screen (or even the smaller TV!). The film certainly looked expensive, and it was – reports suggest a budget around $95 million.
Perhaps surprisingly, given the talent involved, the musical aspect feels slightly less integrated than in the Disney Renaissance musicals it was clearly positioned against. The songs, penned by the legendary duo of Elton John and Tim Rice (fresh off their Lion King triumph), are catchy and pleasant enough ("It's Tough to Be a God" is a highlight), but they often feel more like soundtrack additions than organic parts of the narrative, sometimes fading into the background compared to the sparkling dialogue and visual storytelling. The rousing score, however, co-composed by giants Hans Zimmer (The Lion King, Gladiator) and John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon), perfectly captures the swashbuckling spirit.
Finding Its Audience, Eventually
Despite its charm, star power, and visual flair, The Road to El Dorado famously underperformed at the box office upon release, barely recouping its hefty budget with a worldwide gross of around $76.4 million. Critics were somewhat divided, with some praising the animation and voice work (it currently sits at a modest 51% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, though audiences rate it higher), while others found the story perhaps a little derivative. I distinctly remember it feeling like a film that maybe didn't quite know if it wanted to be a full-blown musical or a straight adventure-comedy, landing somewhere enjoyably in between.
Yet, like so many films from this era, it found a dedicated following on home video and later online. Perhaps removed from the intense Disney/DreamWorks rivalry of the time, viewers could appreciate it for what it is: a funny, exciting, beautifully animated adventure with two incredibly charismatic leads. Its slightly more mature humour and themes have likely helped it endure, finding favour with audiences who grew up alongside it. It's become something of a beloved cult classic, a testament to the power of great characters and genuine fun. Remember the armadillo, Altivo? He practically steals every scene he's in without saying a word! That kind of charm doesn't fade.
Rating: 8/10
This score reflects the sheer joy and entertainment value The Road to El Dorado consistently delivers. The Kline/Branagh dynamic is pitch-perfect, the animation (especially the traditional character work) is gorgeous, and the sense of adventure is infectious. While the songs might not be peak Elton John/Tim Rice and the plot follows familiar beats, the execution is so full of wit and energy that it overcomes these minor quibbles. It didn't conquer the box office back then, but its enduring popularity proves that sometimes, the real treasure is found a little later down the road.
It remains a glittering example of turn-of-the-millennium animation – ambitious, funny, and possessing a roguish charm that’s hard to resist. Definitely worth digging out that old tape (or finding it streaming!) for another trip.