Great Art, Poor Direction

Rating: 4/10 (5 June 2007)

This review is an attempt to explain some reasons why this movie is considered not one of Disney's greatest films.
In short, the art is beautiful in its own way and the voices aren't bad. But the lack of sound (background noises, music, sound effects, etc) except for in select parts where a musical number popped in was devastating to the mood of the picture.
Sound moves the film and at times it became boring, even when Eddie Murphy was blasting out some silliness that should have been entertaining.
Also the music numbers seemed uninspired and randomly placed. Instead of moving the picture and complimenting it, they seemed to be begrudgingly thrown in like tinsel on a Christmas tree- no one likes it, yet many just toss it on in a strange sense of obligation.
The art was definitely good and the animation fluid. Sometimes the backdrops were so simple that it almost felt like one was watching an animated storyboard instead of the final product.