Fun and Fancy Free

 

Release Date: September 27, 1947

Watch Date: February 2 - February 4, 2023

"This delightful gem not only sparkles with charm, but is rich in history-making Disney moments. It was the last animated feature starring Walt Disney as the voice of Mickey Mouse, and the only film featuring four of Walt's most famous characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Jiminy Cricket. In Disney's classic tradition of great storytelling, unforgettable characters, music and adventure, Jiminy Cricket hosts two lively tales: Bongo, the whimsical story of a little circus bear who proves that the size of his heart and brain is bigger than the most bearish bully; and Mickey and the Beanstalk, where Mickey, Donald and Goofy confront Willie the Giant in Disney's animated adaptation of 'Jack and the Beanstalk'."

    It's becoming increasingly clear to me that if Jiminy Cricket is in a movie, regardless of whether or not he's less horny, I will probably not enjoy it. My first Disney red flag - how exciting!

    They've also decided to throw in a ventriloquist and his creepy dummies for fun. I feel badly for the little girl who was stuck in the room for them for the duration of shooting.

    This movie is two stories too long to be shorts and too short to be feature films. Mediums?

    The first is about a bear who escapes from the circus only to find that the way bears express affection in nature is by slapping each other. This is...not a message that would get through censors today. As a victim of domestic violence the whole thing feels so, so icky. I was told once by a friend that this is one of their favorite Disney stories. I cannot imagine why. The song would be cute if it wasn't talking about physically assaulting your romantic partner.

    God, do I really hate it.

    Mickey Mouse's version of 'Jack and the Beanstalk' is a classic. People forget, I think, that it's from this film. It's a pretty standard retelling of a classic fairy tale, not much has been deviated from. So there's not much to say. I think Donald Duck steals the show. When he's not trying to make overtures to the Latin-American population, he's my favourite Disney character.

    This is the last time Walt would voice Mickey, and that lends it's own special magic to the film knowing that this is the last time Walt would voice act the mouse that started it all. I don't know if a lot of people realize that Walt was Mickey's first voice actor. Bob certainly didn't know.

    Of course, at this point in our marathon Mickey has only shown up in two films - and I don't think you could count his one or two lines in Fantasia as an appearance. I mean technically you have to. But...I almost wouldn't.

    More of fun and fancy free annoys me more than it charms me, and Bob fell asleep - or tried not to, so I don't think I can say we recommend this film, but as a chance to hear Walt's voice it'd be a shame to pass it up.