THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER

US, 1990, 77 minutes, Colour.
Voices of Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, John Candy, George C. Scott, Peter Firth.
Directed by Hendel Butoy, Mike Gabriel.

The Rescuers Down Under is a popular Disney story, taking advantage of the popularity of Australian themes. It is a bit surprising for an Australian audience to see a young boy from the Outback needing to be rescued by New York mice!

The film has a conservation framework in mind, a focus on the birds and the animals of Outback Australia (but not an aborigine in sight). Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor are once again The Rescuers (as they were in the 1977 film). John Candy is an enjoyable Wilbur and George C. Scott enjoys himself as Percival Mc Leech, who kidnaps boys and wants to sell the wildlife.

There is a verve about the film which will keep the young audiences entertained.

1. A film for the family, children's response?

2. The original film, the mice, the sequel - and its Australian setting?

3. The American settings, the Australian Outback? The bush, the characters, the animals and the birds, the action? The `Black Slacks' song and the version of `Waltzing Matilda'?

4. The range of voices - accents, humour? The Australian accents and tone - with a touch of Crocodile Dundee?

5. The Australian setting, the plot, Cody in the bush, his mother, absent father? His rescuing the eagle, the fall, the eagle saving him, taking him to its nest, giving him the gift of the feather? His rescuing the mice?

6. New York, the Rescue Aid Society? Bernard and Miss Bianca, his trying to take the opportunity to propose? Life in New York? The signals, the delaying of the proposal, Wilbur and the travelling to Australia, the landing? Jake, the snake? The ride on Mc Leech's wagon? The rescue, the eggs? Wilbur, the fighting of Mc Leech? The final proposal for marriage?

7. Cody, caught in the pit, with Mc Leech and Joanna, taking him to the mineshaft, locked in the lizard's cage? Free, their setting him out to go to the eagle, their following him, climbing, the nest, the feather? The mice and their help? His being caught, the escape, falling over the waterfall, rescued?

8. The comedy of Wilbur and John Candy's voice and his style? Flying, crashlanding? Roosting on the eggs?

9. Jake, his friendliness, helping the mice on their travels?

10. Mc Leech, his cruelty, the arch-villain? Plans, taking Cody, trapping him, sending him out to find the eagle? The sinister villainess, Joanna?

11. The popular blend of adventure, rescue story, themes of the environment and protection of wildlife?