Hercules (1997)

The critic calls the 1997 Disney animated film an underrated masterpiece and their favorite Disney movie, praising its blend of hero story and rom-com elements along with a standout soundtrack.

This free-spirited show-biz version of Greek mythology ranks with the best of modern Disney animation. The critic singles out the snappy musical patter by David Zippel, the wisecracking aura combined with romantic poignancy, and the deft mix of comic tone with traditional Disney life lessons.

The ingenious new animated Hercules is pretty divine, with Disney animation back in top form. The critic singles out the inspired intuition bringing together ancient lore, gospel singing, girl-group choreography, and free-floating mischief into a jubilant pastiche, plus wild visual ideas from production design by Gerald Scarfe.

Hercules displays the muscle and charm to dominate family and kid biz for the season as a winning tall tale, cleverly told and wonderfully voiced. The critic singles out the forceful and amusing melding of character animation with the screen personae of the actors voicing the roles, particularly Danny DeVito and James Woods, plus the vitality and insouciance from directors John Musker and Ron Clements.

The critic praises the film as another benchmark achievement by the Aladdin team of Musker and Clements, noting its infectious humour that appeals across ages and the great craft in Gerald Scarfe's angular visual design. They single out the likeable but dim-witted grown-up Herc, James Woods' cigar-chomping Hades as the chief attraction for adults, and the gospelling divas of the chorus.

The critic argues that the 1997 Disney animated film, despite underperforming at the box office, was a key creative success in the studio's 1990s renaissance with enduring strengths in its reimagining of Greek myth.

The film is lighter, brighter, and more cheerful than the previous year's Hunchback of Notre Dame, with more for kids to identify with. The critic singles out the fresh visual style from Gerald Scarfe's caricatures and the witty in-jokes and satire mixed with broad entertainment for children.

The critic finds the film cheeky rather than genuinely funny and notes that its anachronisms and product placements make Greek mythology accessible but come at the cost of gravitas. The animation mixes styles effectively with distinctive Gerald Scarfe designs, and the modern relevance of the themes is a strength.

The review notes that the film falls into the 'New Disney' category of being noisy, intellectual and relentless rather than charming, with a by-the-numbers feel despite springy drawings and fulsome songs. It works too hard for grown-ups and requires classical knowledge for its gags.

The piece reflects positively on the 1997 Disney animated film Hercules as an underappreciated entry in the studio's renaissance era, noting its box office performance and lasting affection among fans. It singles out the voice casting process, particularly the successful choice of James Woods as Hades after other high-profile options fell through, as a highlight of the production.

The critic views the film as a charming but slightly diminished follow-up to Aladdin, with time having been kind to its quirky Gerald Scarfe-inspired animation and strong voice work despite some contemporary criticism of its look and tone. The one element singled out for praise is James Woods' energetic, improvisational performance as Hades, which stands out as the film's highlight.

In a retrospective on late-90s Disney animation, the critic groups Hercules with other post-Aladdin efforts that replicate its style of dashing heroes, contemporary sidekicks, and Broadway songs in myth/legend settings. No specific verdict on the film itself beyond contextualizing it in the era's output.

The critic ranks it lowest among Musker/Clements films, calling it a stepping-stone project whose overdone story mixes sports and superhero tropes with celebrity satire. They single out the stylistic animation and James Woods' iconic Hades performance as reasons it still has fans.