Cartoon Corner- Robin Hood

This seems to be considered one of the weaker films by Disney itself, based on how it’s generally marketed, released, and priced.  I can kinda see it.



There’s a contemporary feel to it that I imagine rubs critics and Disney staff the wrong way.  In the first scene when Robin poses as a fortune teller, part of the pitch includes the line “get the scope with your horoscope”.  There’s a scene of football-style tackling, complete with college fight song.  I’d say the Sheriff was literally Rosco P Coltrane, except Dukes of Hazard didn’t start airing until 6 or so years later.

It’s all pretty similar to a classic Goofy short.  Which seems entirely out of place in a film really, especially one not set in modern times.

There’s also some obvious animation issues, although I can’t rule out some of those being an artifact of video conversion.  Still, there’s definitely points where details and colors go wonky, in addition to the obvious reuse of some character models from other movies.

Basically I can see where Disney might feel like they just made a cheap, pandering cash-in here.  Modern enough to get dated fast, made on the tiniest of budgets, etc etc.

Which doesn’t really fit with its modern reputation does it?  People like Robin Hood just fine!  Because while Disney might be right about their work here, y’know what?  We’re pretty far removed from those contemporary influences, so new generations can discover it and just enjoy the execution within that that cash-in goal.  And on that front it’s just fine.  The villain’s foppishness is pretty entertaining, Robin is a likeable and low-key kinda hero, Baloo Little John is a hoot, they even do pretty good with the Obvious Kid Appeal characters, since they also give us a vehicle to really introduce Marian and all that.

It’s a perfectly decent movie, it’s just not very Disney-like, so Disney doesn’t really associate with it as much as some of the real classics.

Rating- 6/10.  I dunno why I find it more interesting to pick apart average-to-above movies than talk up their good parts, but I keep coming back to it don’t I?  Eh, so goes.