Loosely based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, 1988’s Oliver and Company tells the story of an orphaned cat who is taken in by a gang of streetwise dogs to learn how to survive in 80s New York City.
The music is easily the highlight of the film, features songs by the likes of Billy Joel and Bette Middler. The animation here is noticeably stronger than much of Disney’s other work of the decade, with better movement and cleaner lines. The film is well paced and the characters are reasonably developed and very likeable.
As the first film I even saw in a movie theatre, Oliver and Company will always have an extra sense of nostalgia for me. Even despite this, the film definitely holds up to modern standards. The music is absolutely of its era, but that doesn’t hurt it. This is a movie that anyone should be able to enjoy.
Up next: The Little Mermaid (1989)
