Movie Type: Family-Oriented Adventure, Animated Musical
Themes: White People Among Indians
Main Cast: Irene Bedard, Mel Gibson, Judy Kuhn, Linda Hunt, Russell Means
Release Year: 1995
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
History gets the Disney kiddie treatment and a politically correct interpretation in the studio's 33rd feature-length animated movie, the first to be based on actual events and people. Pocahontas (Irene Bedard) is the daughter of Algonquin chief Powhatan (Russell Means), who promises her in marriage to Kocoum, a brave whom she doesn't love. Pocahontas would rather be paddling in her canoe or wandering in the forest, communing with nature and her animal pals, Meeko, a raccoon, and the hummingbird Flit. When European settlers arrive, she becomes enamored of handsome John Smith (Mel Gibson). Their attraction is encouraged by Grandmother Willow (Linda Hunt), a talking tree. The situation between their peoples is tense, however, as the settlers, led by Governor Ratcliffe (David Ogden Stiers) desperately want the gold that they're sure the natives are concealing. When a dutiful sentry, Thomas (Christian Bale) follows Smith into the woods on one of his secret meetings with Pocahontas, a tragic mistake leads both groups to the brink of war. Only the love of Pocahontas and Smith can prevent bloodshed. Pocahontas (1995) was awarded two Oscars, for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score and Best Original Song for "Colors of the Wind." ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Review
Pocahontas is often cited as the most forgettable of Disney's wave of animated triumphs that kept coming with remarkable regularity during the 1990s. But it's far from a bad movie, bearing enough of Disney's well-traveled standard components to make it easy enough to sit through. On the heels of the gargantuan box-office smash The Lion King, Pocahontas can't help but feel like something of an arthouse movie by comparison, even if it did manage to rustle up over 140 million dollars domestically. The only thing not small about the movie is the vocal talent hired for the blandly handsome John Smith, but even Mel Gibson can't distinguish the character from the parade of vapid Disney heroes who came before and would come after. Disney movies often endure on the strength of their villains, but viewers would likely have trouble recalling much of anything about the settler governor who provides the requisite heartlessness in this outing. Basing the movie on history didn't prove too popular with the kiddies, either -- for years afterward, Disney stores were trying to unload their overstocked merchandise at increasingly ridiculous discounts. But the "mouse house" can never be accused of giving less than its all, and the sheer number of people working on the project ensured that it would be well-stocked in color, wit, music, and even the occasional breathtaking thrill. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Brian Chavanne - Casting, Karen Margiotta - Casting, Ruth Lambert - Casting, Mike Gabriel - Director, Eric Goldberg - Director, Mark Hester - Editor, H. Lee Peterson - Editor, Stephen Schwartz - Composer (Music Score), Alan Menken - Composer (Music Score), Stephen Schwartz - Songwriter, Danda Axelrod - Production Designer, James Pentecost - Producer, Rasoul Azadani - Supervisor/Manager, Steve Goldberg - Supervisor/Manager, Dan Hansen - Supervisor/Manager, Don Paul - Supervisor/Manager, Chris Buck - Screenwriter, Ed Gombert - Screenwriter, Joe Grant - Screenwriter, Glen Keane - Screenwriter, Duncan Marjoribanks - Screenwriter, Bruce M. Morris - Screenwriter, Ralph Zondag - Screenwriter, Robert Gibbs - Screenwriter
