Home On The Range wasn't a terrible movie, it does have its good moments. However, it just isn't a great one either. It does try hard, but is overall unexceptional. I am not criticising it just for the sake of it, this review is coming from someone who did see the movie, noticed some good bits, and not so impressive bits.
The animation does have its good points, the opening in particular is absolutely stunning, with lovely pastel colours. But there are other parts where it is merely okay, where there are some dull backgrounds and some awkward character animation, Rico especially. I am probably the only person who thinks this, and that is fine, but Alan Menken's music was a disappointment. It isn't as beautiful as Beauty and the Beast, as catchy as Little Mermaid, as dazzling as Aladdin, as lyrical as Pocahontas or as powerful as Hunchback of Notre Dame. Instead at best, it is forgettable, and I do think it is Menken's poorest effort. Out the songs, all of which are pleasant but unmemorable, the only one that stood out for me was Slim's Yodel Song, and the main reason for that was the embeddement of classical music favourites like William Tell(Rossini) and Ode To Joy(Beethoven).
The movie does start off very well indeed, and I did like the idea of the plot. Sadly, the plot came across as rather thin, there are a number of scenes where very little happens, though the scene in Echo Mine was fun. Overall, the film's main problem is too much dialogue not enough action. speaking of the dialogue, there are one or two bits with Slim mostly where you raise a laugh, but in general, despite Roseanne Barr's evidently enthusiastic voice over, Home On the Range is rather devoid of humour.
The characters are a mixed bag. Slim as a villain isn't bad at all(one of the better characters), he is humorous at times, and there are occasional moments of inspired dialogue, my favourite being about his yodelling. His identical henchmen are unimpressive, and perhaps even unnecessary. Rico is underused, the cows are fine but Buck was a tad annoying at times, not always though. One of the better aspects of the movie was the voice cast, with Randy Quaid evidently relishing his role as Slim, and Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench are very good, despite their meagre material. Cuba Gooding Jnr is okay, he has been better, but Jennifer Tilly and Steve Bushemi are given little to do.
Overall, Home On the Range is okay as an animated film. It does have its good moments, but my general impression is that it is one of the least remarkable Disney films. 5/10 Bethany Cox
