The Road to El Dorado
***
Rated on a 4-star
scale
Screening venue: Odeon (Liverpool City Centre)
Released in the UK by UIP on August 4, 2000; certificate U; 90 minutes; country
of origin USA; aspect ratio 1.85:1
Directed by Eric Bergeron, Don Paul;
produced by Brooke Breton, Bonne Radford. Written by Ted
Elliot, Terry Rossio. Edited by John Carnochan, Dan
Molina.
CAST.....
Voice of Kevin Kline..... Tulio
Voice of Kenneth Branagh..... Miguel
Voice of Rosie Perez..... Chel
Voice of Armand Assante..... Tzekel-Kan
Voice of Edward James Olmos..... Chief Tannabok
Movie lovers are going to be discussing "Pulp
Fiction" for a helluva lot longer than "Patch Adams", because scoundrels
are more interesting than saccharine goody-good heroes. They don't stand
underneath haloes, smile benevolently or perform deeds that encourage sentimental
piano music -- they lie, swindle, and dodge trouble with quick thinking and
crafty one liners. The grins of corrupt men are always the most infectious,
and their antics the most entertaining.
"The Road to El Dorado", an animated
picture released in perfect time for the school holidays, is such an entertaining
children's movie because it gives the audience some credit. Its onscreen
mischief offers something kids can sink their teeth into. The main characters,
Miguel (Kenneth Branagh) and Tulio (Kevin Kline), are a pair of con men in
16th Century Spain. After getting into hot water with brawnier criminals
than themselves, they decide to stow away on a ship sailing to Mexico, armed
with a map that promises to take them to the legendary city of El Dorado,
which is rumoured to be filled with gold.
Wouldn't you know it, there follows a series of
misadventures which end up leaving our heroes washed up on the island where
El Dorado is situated. Once Miguel and Tulio find the city, its residents
are amazed by their strange appearance and manner, and mistake them for gods.
I guess they've never seen goofballs before. Miguel and Tulio milk this for
all it's worth, basking in adoration and gifts, until sort of developing
a conscience about it in the last act. Even then it's just because the citizens
of El Dorado are in peril from violent villains.
These guys would be side characters in most animated
features. For the past several years Disney has been giving us deadly serious
characters of pious nobility, with films such as "Mulan" and "Pocahontas".
God bless DreamWorks for producing a juicier rival to such fare, by having
a sense of humour. When I was a kid I hated simple-minded 'family entertainment'.
I made sure I saw films that were considered unsuitable for me. Youngsters
enjoy rascality, which is just what this movie offers, albeit within the
boundaries of a Hollywood cartoon. There's even a reference to swearing;
Tulio comes close to getting squished by a boat, and shouts "Holy
ship!"
Few movies made for children are gonna get more
risque than that. I should also mention that several of my friends have been
raving that they saw a full-on snog in the film. I don't recall it myself,
but there are indeed scenes of kissing, and I wouldn't be surprised if they're
right. "The Road to El Dorado" is too lighthearted and frivolous to be considered
one of the great animated movies -- but therein, to some extent, lies its
appeal: it doesn't take itself seriously, it takes chances, and it's bloody
good fun while it lasts.
COPYRIGHT© 2000 Ian
Waldron-Mantgani
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