A Rodent's Life (1986)

***A Rodent's Life*** is a 1986 American traditionally animated movie. It tells the story of Brock, (Patrick Swayze) an outcast inventor mouse who recruits a group of circus rodents he mistakes for warriors when her colony is threatened by a group of rats. It is produced by Tristar Pictures. The film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie takes place during 1983.

## Plot:

Mouse Island is a colony of people led by the Queen and her daughter, Princess Bailey. Every season, they are forced to give food to a gang of marauding kangaroo rats led by Jumper. One day, when Brock, an individualist and would-be inventor, inadvertently knocks the offering into a stream with his latest invention, a grain harvesting device, Jumper demands twice as much food as compensation. When Brock suggests in earnest that they seek help from other stronger rodents, the other mice see it as an opportunity to remove him and send him off. At the "rodent city", Brock mistakes a troupe of Circus Rodents (who were recently dismissed by their greedy ringmaster, P.J. Squirrel) for the warrior rodents he seeks. The rodents, in turn, mistake Brock for a talent agent, and accept his offer to travel with him back to Mouse Island. During a welcome ceremony upon their arrival, the Circus Rodents and Brock both discover their mutual misunderstandings. The Circus Rodents attempt to leave, but are attacked by an eagle; while fleeing, they save Mat, Bailey's younger sister, gaining the mice's respect in the process. At Brock's request, they continue the ruse of being "warriors", so the troupe can continue to enjoy the hospitality of the mice. Hearing that Jumper fears eagles inspires Brock to create a false bird to scare away the kangaroo rats. Meanwhile, Jumper tells his gang how greatly the mice outnumber them and worries that they will eventually rebel against them. The mice finish constructing the fake eagle, but during a celebration, P.J. Squirrel arrives, searching for his troupe, and inadvertently reveals their secret. Outraged by Brock's deception, the mice exile him, and desperately attempt to gather food for a new offering to the kangaroo rats. However, when Jumper returns to discover the mediocre offering, he takes over the island, and demands the mice's winter food supply, planning to assassinate the Queen afterwards. Overhearing the plan, Mat persuades Brock and the Circus Rodents to return to Mouse Island. After the Circus Rodents distract the kangaroo rats long enough to rescue the Queen, Brock deploys the eagle; it initially fools the rats, but P.J. Squirrel, who also mistakes it for a real eagle, burns it, exposing it as a decoy. Jumper beats Brock in retaliation, saying that the people are humble and lowly life forms who live to serve the kangaroo rats. However, Brock responds that Jumper actually fears the colony, because he has always known what they are capable of, inspiring the mice and the Circus Rodents to fight back against the kangaroo rats. The mice attempt to force Jumper out of Mouse Island using P.J.'s circus cannon, but it suddenly begins to rain. In the ensuing chaos, Jumper frees himself from the cannon, and abducts Brock. After the Circus Rodents fail to catch them, Bailey rescues Brock. As Jumper pursues them, Brock lures him to the nest of the eagle he, Mat, and the Circus Rodents encountered earlier. Thinking that the eagle is another decoy, Jumper taunts it before discovering in panic that it is real, and is captured and devoured by its chicks. With their enemies gone, Brock has improved his inventions along with the quality of life for Mouse Island, he and Bailey become a couple, and they give Jumper's younger brother Joe, and a few people to P.J. Squirrel as new members of his troupe. Bailey and Mat respectively become the new queen and princess. The mice congratulate Brock as a hero, and bid a fond farewell to the circus troupe, who promise to return in the future.

## Cast:

* Patrick Swayze as Brock
* Bonnie Rait as Princess Bailey
* Russi Taylor as Mat
* June Foray as the Queen
* Jerry Colonna as Mr. Nibbles (this is Colonna's final film role before his death five days ago)
* Dan Aykroyd as Jumper
* Jon Lovitz as Joe
* Phil Hartman as Bumper
* Jim Cummings as PJ Squirrel
* Jim Carrey as Karl
* James Garner as Smith
* Gino Conforti as Jacques
* Frank Welker as Toss and Turn

## Rodent Species (Cast):

* Ant - House Mouse
* Grasshopper - Desert Kangaroo Rat
* Flea- Eastern Grey Squirrel
* Ladybug - Red-Rumped Agouti
* Caterpillar - Guinea Pig/Capybara
* Walking Stick - Eastern Chipmunk
* Pillbug - Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
* Praying Mantis - Patagonian Cavy
* Gypsy Moth - North American Beaver
* Spider - Black Rat
* Dung Beetle - Long-Tailed Chinchilla
* Flies - Golden Hamster
* Bird - Bald Eagle