This will probably be the last non-classic movie that we see, simply because we're running out of time and we still have Pixar movies and the big 4 from my childhood (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King) to get to. For those who don't remember, The Great Mouse Detective came out in 1986, during Disney's "bad decade." It's basically Sherlock Holmes for mice. In fact, Basil of Baker Street, the mouse mentioned in the title, lives below Mr. Holmes. This isn't so much a bad movie, as simply a forgotten one. There is a lot going for it: it's a fun adventure, the plot is engaging, there's some nice character work, and Vincent Price is the villain. In many ways, the movie feels like a prototype for Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers or Duck Tales. But the movie somehow lacks a "cinematic" quality in that it feels like a made for TV movie or the first episode of a TV series rather than a feature length Disney movie. It also suffers from being made in the 80's. Like so many movies from that decade, it doesn't age well. It's most notable in the songs, especially the strip tease number. Yes, you read that right. There's a Burlesque number in the movie that, frankly, makes Jessica Rabbit seem wholesome. Despite it's best efforts, the movie feels a little cynical in it's construction. It hits the beats, but never strives to elicit an honest emotion from the viewer. It's understandable that this movie never became a classic, it's just mediocre enough to be forgettable.
6/10
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