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adamwatchesmovies · 3 years

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Fievel Goes West (1991)

I’m not a fan of An American Tail. Its tone is too uneven, the main character not uninteresting enough, and the plot contrived. That doesn't mean I was necessarily going to dislike An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. A VHS came into my possession, I figured I’d give it a try. Maybe I’d even like it better than the first! Not a chance. This is a much worse film. I’d wager even fans of the original would dislike it.

Several years after the events of the first movie, cats have returned to The Bronx and the poor Mousekewitz family decide to leave for greener pastures far away (again). Separated from his family on the way there (again), Fievel (voiced by Phillip Glasser) uncovers a nefarious plan by a group of cats (led by Cat R. Waul, voiced by John Cleese) to exploit the mice and then eat them. It’s up to Fievel, his friend Tiger (voiced by Dom DeLuise), and Fievel’s hero, the elderly Wylie Burp (voiced by James Stewart) to save the day.

Beat for beat, the opening rehashes its predecessor while trying to distract us with a few generic Western elements. Being duped by someone pretending to be a mouse again makes the Mousekewitz look stupid and makes us annoyed with them. At least in the first movie, it was a cat in disguise. This time, they're duped by a puppet! A wooden puppet! As for Fievel, he's learned nothing about wandering around alone. It severely undermines the emotional impact of a tightly knit family becoming separated. The fact that it’s already happened does so as well.

I must also question the film’s premise. I realize I’m being unfair because I'm watching Fievel Goes West. That's what's going to happen! but that’s the problem. It’s a lousy and generic premise. No one stayed up late coming up with this idea. This sequel was obviously rushed into production. So just rehash the first movie and throw in some lassos, big hats, saloons, and cactuses. Voila! Kids like Cowboys so they’ll come to see our movie!

Even as a Western, this movie doesn’t satisfy or entertain. I’ll forgive the questionable depiction of Native American Mice. What disappoints is the iconic scenes you expect that simply aren’t there. No cattle rustlin’, no bank or train robberies, no “pistols at dawn”, no cavalry, no prospectors, can-can-ing femme fatales, banditos, not even any revolvers or horses! I know those might not have been accurate to the very late 19th century/early 20th century, when this film was made, but in that case, don't set the movie in the "Wild West"!

This picture does not look as good as the first film (Don Bluth not being included, it’s unsurprising). The songs are neither memorable nor catchy. The side plot with Fievel’s sister Tanya (voiced by Cathy Cavadini) is dull and the plot involving Tiger is no good. This movie only lasts an hour and fourteen minutes and there’s so much of it that is either repeated from the first film or filler that it's almost like it doesn't exist.

If you remember liking Fievel Goes West and you feel like shattering your childhood memories, I recommend this film. It’s not funny, clever, or memorable. There’s no spark of imagination or true passion present at any point throughout. It’s the kind of kid’s entertainment I hate because a bunch of adults took a look at a shoddy product and said “they won’t know any better, just release it anyway”. (On VHS, January 8, 2016)

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