Film

Oliver & Company (1988)

Director: George Scribner

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

This animation feature from Disney is a bestial rehash of Oliver Twist, wherein cute kitten Ollie, abandoned in New York, falls into 'baaaad' (i.e. good) canine company. Swindled out of a meal by streetwise hound Dodger, our hero asserts his virility by debunking the rogue mutt in front of his comrades. Accepted as 'one of the boys', Ollie is sent out with his new chums as they scavenge for pickings with which their amiable master Fagin can pay off a debt to fiendish Mr Sykes. Much cornball adventure ensues, punctuated by healthy helpings of singing, dancing and general merriment. Billy Joel provides the voice of Dodger, and despite having made some unpleasant records, turns in a few tolerable foot-tapping numbers. Midler's larynx is its usual gargantuan self, handling the steamy vocal chores for pampered pooch Georgette, but top marks go to Cheech Marin as Tito, the diminutive chihuahua with a man-sized ego who wins Georgette's heart by challenging everything that moves to a fight.

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