Oliver & Company

Disney does Dickens in this 1988 musical adaptation inspired by Oliver Twist, in which an orphaned kitten first falls in with a lovable gang of NYC pickpockets, led by the winsomely cool Dodger (voiced by Billy Joel), and is later adopted by a young girl named Jenny, only to find himself caught up in a kidnapping scam. Scene-stealing turns by Cheech Marin as the voice of a cocky chihuahua and Bette Midler as a snooty French poodle add to the fun. While Oliver & Company, Disney's 27th animated feature, was the last in a line of so-so animated films before the studio entered its second golden age with the 1989 release of The Little Mermaid, it still boasts some genuine charms in the amiable storyline, solid cast, and hummable tunes (particularly "Why Should I Worry?"). Featuring a nice rich transfer and a vibrant Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the disc serves up a number of extras, including a six-minute "making of," a pair of animated shorts starring Pluto (including the Oscar-winning "Lend a Paw"), a pair of sing-alongs ("Why Should I Worry?" and "Streets of Gold"), and more. The only real clunker is the two-minute misleadingly titled featurette "The History of Animals in Disney Films," which is really mostly a plug for Oliver & Company. Recommended. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review—Feb. 3, 2009—Walt Disney, 74 min., G, $29.99—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1988's Oliver and Company (20th Anniversary Edition) features a good transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. DVD extras include a “making-of” featurette (6 min.), a pair of animated shorts starring Pluto (including the Oscar-winning “Lend a Paw” and “Puss Café”), “Disney's Animated Animals” featurette (2 min.), a pair of sing-alongs for “Why Should I Worry?” and “Streets of Gold,” the “Oliver's Big City Challenge” game, a photo gallery, fun facts, and trailers. Bottom line: if you already own the previous 2002 edition, there's no need to buy this one (the only significant difference in the extras is the addition of the game); if not, this lesser Disney title is still worth adding.][Blu-ray Review—Sept. 10, 2013—Walt Disney, 74 min., G, $29.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1988's Oliver and Company sports a decent transfer and DTS-HD 5.1 audio. Extras include two bonus Disney shorts: 1941's “Lend a Paw” and 1950's “Puss Café” (15 min.), a “making-of” featurette (6 min.), “Disney's Animated Animals” featurette (2 min.), a sing-along mode, a publicity section with trailers and TV spots, and a bonus DVD copy of the film. Bottom line: not top-drawer Disney but still fun, Oliver & Company makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]