ironhorse_iv Review of Tom and Jerry: The Movie

Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992)

Warner Bros Family Entertainments think it's a good movie. Don't you believe it! This movie ruin Tom & Jerry!

[4/10 · 26 July 2014]

I was deeply disappointed as a kid, watching this movie in the theater. I really wanted something like the old 1940's Tom and Jerry animated series of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer short films by Hanna & Barbera. If not that, something like the Gene Deitch or Chuck Jones shorts from the 1960s. I was even alright if the movie was similar to 1990's Tom & Jerry kids with the violent tame down, as long as they were chasing after each other. It's not that hard of a plot. Yes, the cartoons were only 7 minutes long, but I can see an hour-long plot center on Tom's numerous attempts to capture Jerry and the mayhem and destruction that follows. Sadly, that isn't what we got! The movie is lacking slapstick comedy. The hilarious sound effects, the comedic timing, and all the destruction. It was lacking everything that made Tom & Jerry a worldwide success. Somebody was smoking some awful catnip when they came up with the Tom and Jerry: The Movie. Directed by Phil Roman, the movie repacked the duos from enemies to friends after a mishap that cause both of them to become homeless. With nowhere to turn, they find themselves in adventure, helping a young girl, Robyn Starling (Voiced by Anndi McAfee), reconnected with her long-lost father. Robyn's current legal guardian, Aunt Pristine Figg (Voiced by Charlotte Rae) with her sleazy lawyer, Lickboot (Voiced by Tony Jay) presumed that Robyn's father was killed in an avalanche while away in Tibet, wants the kid to inherent her brother's fortune, but young Robyn thinks otherwise, and go off to find him. The movie has this recycle runaway kid orphan plot; that was in better used in 1989's All Dogs Go to Heaven or 1986's Great Mouse Detective. It's brings nothing new to the table, and really does take most of the movie, away from Tom & Jerry. I guess, the movie was trying to do a theme that has to do with the emotional side of life and the feelings of abandonment people feel at one time or another, but it's sadly get lost in the story. Honestly, what was the dad doing so important that he would leave his kid, alone in the states? He looks like Indiana Jones, and they don't bother, showing his job. It might be more entertaining this movie. Instead of having a treasure-hunting adventure, the movie instead go all musical. Most of the songs here, were all pretty forgotten and lousy. Did we really need a song from the West Side Story jazz number alley cats? What do they care! They running the clock-time! They should care, because it such a filler scene that play little to no part to the main plot! It's awful! The movie has all, too many, one-dimensional villain songs. I can't stand the ice cream cart rapist, Dr. Applecheeks (Voiced by Henry Gibson) 'God's Little Creatures', song. Don't get me started on how bad, "Money is a beautiful word" is. These songs are so negative, it kills the film's mood. Then, there are songs sung by actors that should never sing like Rip Taylor as Captain Kiddie in the 'I've Done It All' sequence. Even the movie opening theme was lacking. Nobody is going to beat the classic theme song that Scott Bradley made. Why couldn't they keep that song? The only songs that was alright is 'I miss you' sung by Anndi McAfee and 'Friends to the end'. I was deeply disappointed with the soundtrack composed by Henry Mancini of 1963's Pink Panther fame. Another part that sucks is the voice acting. Tom & Jerry didn't need voice actors. They should stay silent like the most of their careers. I really didn't think Richard Kind match the voice of Tom, anyways. I always thought of Tom having a deeply voice, since most of the cartoons, where he did talk, were pretty deep. I really hate the new supporting characters that they put in the film, like Puggsy the dog (Voiced by Ed Gilbert). What-ever happen to Spike from the original cartoons!? He's a better establish character than Puggsy. Glad, at less, they didn't put the controversy character of Mammy Two Shoes. So no over racial stereotypes or blackface jokes, here. Even a cameo from Droopy Dog couldn't save this film, from sucking. It did bomb at the box office in 1992. Since, then there has been a number of Tom & Jerry movies such as 2002's Tom and Jerry: the Magic Ring, 2005's Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars, and others. Overall: Tom & Jerry has been often spoof, homage, or copy in other works like Looney Toons, Simpsons, and other shows, because the show was so good. Sadly, this movie is one of those that sucks. Not worth watching it, unless, you're really bored or a huge Tom & Jerry fan in the first place. This movie felt like walking in kitty litter full of mouse traps! It's disgusting and it hurts to watch.