HOME ON THE RANGE

US, 2004, 77 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Roseanne Barr, Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilley, Steve Buscemi, G.W. Bailey, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Randy Quaid, Charles Haid, Patrick Warburton.
Directed by Will Finn and John Sandford.

With this film, Disney hand-drawn animation, which has prevailed for almost seventy years, comes to an end. Dreamworks and, especially Pixar Studios, have proved that computer animation is the present and the future.

What we have here is a rather old-fashioned story, with an old-fashioned look that is reminiscent of Clarabelle the Cow and of the Looney Tunes and their chases and slambang pratfalls.

It is the story of three cows who come from a dairy farm called A Little Patch of Heaven. Villains rustle cattle, want to buy out poor and helpless widows and give the west a bad name. We share the adventures of the cows, as well as their trying to get on with one another. Maggie is an interloping show cow, so is voiced with her kind of panache by Roseanne Barr. The lady of the farm, called Mrs Calloway, sounds like M, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria because she is voiced by Judi Dench. Amusing with her New Age psychological observations and explanations is Jennifer Tilly voicing Grace. So, there are all kinds of adventures, perils and bonding till the cows come home.

Perhaps the plot and action will seem old-fashioned to today’s children. The adults can reminisce and enjoy the voices.

1. The last of the Disney hand-drawn animated cartoons? Its place in the tradition? The story, the style of sketching, the music? The end of a Disney era?

2. Audience enjoyment of the film? Its appeal to children? To adults?

3. The style of animation, the characters, the layouts, backgrounds? Action sequences? The introduction of the songs, their lyrics, the jaunty musical style?

4. The title, expectations of the American song, being home on the range, the nature of the range, the farms, the west, the changing west?

5. Patch of Heaven, the dairy farm, Pearl, her managing it, getting old, the animals, their devotion to her? The threat of foreclosure?

6. The cows on the farm, Maggie, the newcomer, brash, the voice of Roseanne Barr? Her past, the innuendo in her talk? The contrast with Mrs Caloway, Judi Dench’s cultured voice? Her wearing a hat, the lady of the farm, her condescending attitude, clashes with Maggie? The contrast with Grace, her New Age dialogue, her good nature? Her insights? Their going to the fair, the life of the fair, the reward, the cattle rustler, Alameda Slim? The decision to get the money, to redeem the farm?

7. Alameda Slim and his henchmen, the west, the sequence of the cattle-rustling? His hypnotising the herd with his yodelling? Their following him? Buck the stallion, his vanity, his being a fan of the bounty hunter, Rici? His going along?

8. The adventures of the cows, the flash-flood and its effect? The clashes between the cows, especially Maggie and Mrs Caloway? Slim, his going to the auction, pretending to be a land baron, his followers playing up to him, his wanting Patch of Heaven?

9. The jack-rabbit, the comic touches, memories of the old characters of Disney films and cartoons? The cows following Slim, the mine, the stolen cattle and their being loaded on the train? The attempt to capture Slim, their being captured themselves?

10. Rico, the bounty hunter, the betrayal of his honour, partners with Slim, Slim and his going to the auction?

11. Buck, his reaction, the confrontation with Rico? His helping the cows get back to the farm, the train ride?

12. The barnyard battle, Slim and his going into the train? The reconciliation between the cows? Pearl, the Patch of Heaven saved by the money?

13. The interesting gallery of characters in support, Wesley (and his being drawn like Steve Buscemi), his deals? Rusty the dog? Buck, his vanity, Cuba Gooding Jr’s voice? Randy Quaid as Slim? Junior, the buffalo? Jeb, the goat? The sheriff and his role in the town? The other animals at the farm, Audrey the chicken, Ollie the pig? Larry the duck?