Rock-A-Doodle (Musical Hell Review #66)

A kid gets turned into a cat and has to find a singing rooster to stop an owl from keeping the sun from shining. Yes, really.
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[@harrietamidala1691]

I think the boy was really saying "I'm all furry" not "I'm a furry" but where's the fun in that?

[@MusicalHell]

What he was saying and what it sounded like were two very different things.

[@alexanderklepp]

Musical Hell Agreed. The NC’s review was the first time I ever heard the word furry.

[@blushmuffin5259]

Kid has a lisp. So is "All" sounds like "A." It took me a bit to hear it. But in either case, it's hilarious.

[@GatorRay]

+MusicalHell Good point Deva.

[@horaciosi]

The kid's acting is so bad you can't even tell

[@patrickshields5251]

Fun fact, this narration was not supposed to be in the movie but test audiences had trouble figuring out what was going on. So the executives made a last minute attempt to hire Phil Harris as the narrator to clarify the story. But considering how badly written the story is in the first place, this is pouring salt on a stab wound.

[@tracyallen9170]

LOL!

[@patrickshields5251]

I know. The purpose of a movie is to show, don't tell.

[@brianarodriguez2757]

Thats just sad...

[@SirBlackReeds]

So you've seen the original workprint or test footage, hmm? Also, it was corporate that demanded the changes.

[@patrickshields5251]

@@SirBlackReeds No I didn't. I just look up stuff. The narration was added because test audiences were confused.

[@daneiltherat2327]

Instead of lack of confidence, i would have had chanticleer just have strained his voice from singing so much. So he would need a few minutes to catch his breath and warm up

[@pintsizedpicasso3402]

See, NOW THIS makes sense!

[@philipdarrenellwell1994]

"Jeepers, I'm a furry!" That line is so unfortunate

[@harrietamidala1691]

I think he's actually saying "I'm all furry," but what's the fun in an accurate hearing?

[@EYTPS]

Goldie Pheasant, a character in this movie, is the one responsible for turning kids into furries ;)

[@philipdarrenellwell1994]

I think he is, but it's slightly garbled, so it does sound like "I'm a furry". The audio in this movie was awful.

[@warhammernerd52Daxx-Lorenzo898]

Don't forget Pinky, also, fat furs

[@princessfiona2967]

I don't weather to blame the kid or the audio guy

[@davidspring4003]

You know, since Chanticleer appeared only AFTER Edmond touched the book, I THINK the implication is “you can visit friends you made in make-believe by reading!” ...but the movie is a little too vague with that point.

[@WobblesandBean]

This will ALWAYS bug me: If Chanticleer is responsible for the actual, literal sun's rotation, then why did it come up the one time he forgot to crow?

[@heronerd6269]

Amelia Bee it was a Duke Howl magic trick.

[@joewilenzik9119]

Amelia Bee God got board and wanted to f*** around with a rooster, so he played yo-yo with the sun.

[@thegayghost872]

The local sun deity was mad at him

[@WobblesandBean]

Hero, I found the film online and actually watched the wretched thing, they NEVER explain that. The Duke had nothing to do with it, the sun just...sorta went back down. No reason whatsoever. Total bullshit.

[@MrWill9002]

simple: God got board and decided to fuck around with a rooster so he played yo-yo with the sun

[@metademetra]

I remember this movie as “Baby’s First Plot Hole.” Because I noticed that the rules on how the sun is supposed to come up made no sense at age 4!

[@MrWill9002]

Well then maybe Nostalgia Critic's reason can satisfy you: God got bored so he decided to fuck around with the rooster so he played yo-yo with the sun

[@frabre1810]

Bluth said that the Sun felt so bad for ryising without the rooster's sing, he hid away in shame until he'd sing again

[@Hilljoona]

Like in every fairy tale you know. This world is a fucking fairy tale with some kind of dichotomic deities. Of course it doesn't make any sense, did you read the bible and said: "... hum, yes, I'm not sure the fate of mankind could have been decided in a garden by a snake"

[@Shades14]

​@@frabre1810 That may be the creator's explanation, but there is nothing in the movie to imply that.

[@Frieowksf1293]

​@Shades14 it was likely cut out of the film during one of the many rewrites it had

[@anactualmotherbear]

of all of Bluth's bad movies, Rock-A-Doodle is my favorite because it's an utter spectacle. It never stops being weird and it is consistently entertaining for it.

[@jordang7479]

I love your review and I still have a soft spot for this movie because it has one of my favorite lines ever "If i kill my nephew is it murder or charity?"

[@IdeaBox-dk5vj]

If that line was spoken by the main antagonist, then it would be charity, given that Hutch was one of the sins.

[@drixg555]

To answer that line: Depends if Barbatos (Ruler of the Dark Multiverse) deems him a worthy sacrifice.

[@MrGabeanator]

@@IdeaBox-dk5vj it probably is

[@IdeaBox-dk5vj]

@@MrGabeanator Well, that's great.

[@MrGabeanator]

@@IdeaBox-dk5vj ok

[@robertlauncher]

You also get the original Land Before Time. No really that movie was dark as Hell for a family film, but awesome for it.

[@Tornado1994]

I was 5 and a half when I went to a Matinee to see it with my Kindergarten class back in Mid Fall '88, EVERYONE around me were sobbing like little babies. I suspect, Diva was bit too little when it came out(probably 4) and can't really recall it in its prime. And also possibly doesn't want to mention its hundred DTV Sequels, since the first is Standalone and NOT a musical, or the tragic Elephant in the Room about the Murder Suicide of Judith Barsi.

[@thelonelywoodstock674]

Ya know, I never would've seen any of the Land Before Time's if it wasn't for my step step grandpa's mom

[@rogue7723]

Let's not forget _All Dogs Go To Heaven,_ which could get dark (with the main character being murdered and having a nightmare where he's sent to Hell), but had some light-hearted moments that kept it from alienating itself from easily-frightened kids and parents and had a bittersweet ending.

[@christopherwall2121]

If Spielberg and Lucas hadn't gotten cold feet, it could have been even darker.

[@thomashuffman3237]

12:10 Holy cow! That's a tiger skin rug, in a city inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, no less! That means there's some serial killers in this movie!

[@ejl423]

You know what? No matter how good or shitty the quality is, I'll always have a soft spot for Don Bluth movies because of their animation and atmosphere.

[@kieranstark7213]

That's how I feel about Don Bluth animations as well, but A Troll in Central Park was not sufferable, unlike the other Don Bluth films released before Anastasia and after All Dogs Go to Heaven because it is WAY too child-pandering so Don Bluth realized how godawful A Troll in Central Park is.

[@MsBrendalina]

Agreed. Also, as a Jewish kid who was born in the 80s; I can't help but love the man who brought Fievel into my life

[@sachicocoa9013]

I agree. His character design game was always on point. Even in the Pebble and the Penguin (I love Marina's design). One of the things that draw me to his films are his animation style and the character designs, no matter how much they lack in terms of personality.

[@sachicocoa9013]

@@kieranstark7213 I grew up with All Dogs go to Heaven, but I feel that the Pebble and the Penguin was WAY too kiddie for me it enjoy. I haven't watched A Troll in Central Park yet, but I don't think I want to any time soon...

[@kieranstark7213]

@@sachicocoa9013 Same here!

[@katietaylor8314]

"He really WAS a little boy!" "He was such a bad actor I couldn't tell."

[@RoninCatholic]

_Immediately ships Snipes and Peepers, in accord with their punishment._

[@LittleJoeTheMoonlightCat]

RIP Phil Harris, this was his Final Film before his Passing, so be Please kind to him if anyone on this production when you hand out the Punishments Diva, Please, Phil was one of the good things about this Film.

[@theecourtofmadness]

I really liked this movie when I was a kid, and still would spare it a watch once in a while these days, but I can't help but wonder why Goldie fell in love with Chanticleer, considering we never got to see them spend any time together. Did Chanti do something particularly nice for her, or support her dreams to perform solo? Did they share stories about their past? I WANNA KNOW HOW THOSE BIRDS FELL IN LOVE DARN IT.

[@christopherwall2121]

Well, you can always write those answers yourself if you so wish.

[@averagejoe5145]

I heard that Don Bluth wanted to make the film more like the source material, but executives vetoed that & added more changes that delayed the film's premiere. I heard that Bluth wanted to experiment with integrating live-action with animation too, but he apparently underestimated the difficulties of doing so.

[@SpiritKitten]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Christopher Plummer's performance as the Grand Duke. It should have been a sin on the producers for wasting his talent on this movie! Though he was and will always be the one enjoyable part that keeps me coming back to it

[@KinakoIshiyama]

Or Ellen Greene as the voice of Goldie.

[@amiefortman7220]

I'm usually all in favor of Christopher Plummer getting to do his own singing for a change--his little part in "An American Tail" was really charming--but this... this wasn't it. He and Greene really deserved a better showcase of their talents.

[@MrWill9002]

Just imagine him trying to sneak away

[@thomashuffman3237]

Yet, for some reason, Plummer thought that Rock-a-Doodle was better than the Sound of Music.

[@crcoghill]

I still this movie as a "guilty pleasure" due to the animation, the villain and just growing up with this.

[@crcoghill]

I will agree it's a bad film though.

[@SannySparrow]

crcoghill Same ! I watched This so much as a kid

[@CreativeCreatorCreates]

I have a strange penchant for bad movies/animation. It’s a terrible movie and yet I’ll still watch it lol

[@swahiliranger1022]

@@crcoghill So are most Don Bluth film's- all style no substance. Its a constant problem in maybe all of his films outside of Rats of Nimh.

[@CJCroen1393]

Same. I always kinda liked Snipes but that's probably just because he's a bird (I like birds) and voiced by Mandark (I recognized his voice as a kid) XD Honestly in my eyes the Duke is this movie's biggest tragedy. He could've been such a good villain, I see potential in him, but the movie made him such a wimp.

[@legomaniac101scarandfilthy9]

I don't know why Don Bluth doesn't do animated horror movies?

[@johnvinals7423]

Hell, yellow coat....flooding....nostalgia for 1950s kitsch....it would be fun for him to do an animated Stephen King movie.

[@maximumrisk2004]

I feel like his movies very much are animated horror movies, just not as bloody.

[@MrGabeanator]

@@maximumrisk2004 yep

[@swahiliranger1022]

Because the guy is like a hundred years old now and done making major animated productions.

[@CJCroen1393]

I remember when I saw those cool fanarts of Five Nights at Freddy's as Don Bluth movies and I was like "SOMEONE GET BLUTH TO ACTUALLY DO THIS, PLEASE!"

[@scorpiouskrimson]

I can't help but feel there's an easy fix to the whole 'maintaining the cosmic order' thing. Chanticleer was shown crowing away the raincloud blocking off the sun as well. He might not control the sun itself but he could have some means of contributing to letting it shine by quite literally lighting up the day with his song. The rest of the movie would still be a trainwreck, though, so I doubt it matters.

[@CAMarino92]

8:37-8:51 To quote Nostalgia Critic 'JUST TURN YOUR HEAD TO THE LEFT, DAMNIT!'

[@honjon666]

It's not an "adequate pipe", it's an aqueduct pipe!" This line has stayed with me since the 90s and I can never forget it.

[@MrBlueSkyof1607]

"Yes, our villain was just defeated by a flashlight!" Somebody get H.G. Wells and Rod Taylor on this ASAP!

[@rogue7723]

I'm surprised Diva didn't mention how the Duke was voiced by none other than _Christopher Plummer._

[@roberttreacy8271]

RIP Christopher Plummer (1929-2021).

[@MrWill9002]

Imagine him trying to get away from this

[@Gerilyn2003]

And Hutch was Charles Nelson-Reilly.

[@gracekelley2907]

I just figured out what bothers me about edmunds cat design, his ears are so small and are perched on the top of his head rather than the sides where they belong.

[@daxfisher6327]

Its a proven thing that, unfortunately, Don Bluth doesn't know how to draw a cat to save his life. They either look like raccoon demons, or...well, this.

[@oliviawilliams6204]

Those ears somehow look like a pink ribbon on top his head

[@omundodovini3774]

What about Banjo?

[@christopherwall2121]

It's 'cause he's built on Fievel's framework, you can see it, right?

[@kataevellei415]

Maybe because I saw this movie as a little kid and was actually scared of the Duke, but I still think that an evil owl scheming to keep the sun from rising and cover the world in darkness would make for a decent fantasy villain. Assuming a better plot and cast of characters, of course.

[@benwood5659]

here's an idea for a version of that story where the opening sequence should've been extended like you said: if chanticleer really has the power to raise the sun with his voice, they could've said that the duke of owls hired some other animals to fly some ship that radiates like the sun while one of his goons distracts chanticleer, which would explain why his powers were doubted.

[@thomashuffman3237]

Personally, I’d make it a straight out adaptation of its source material. The Duke can still be part of it, as he can manipulate Chanticleer into not crowing, thus making sure the farmers don’t wake up in time, leaving the farm animals as easy prey.

[@dunes8817]

Phil Harris almost reprised his role as Baloo for Talespin, but couldn't do his voice anymore at that point.

[@Tornado1994]

Ed Gilbert voiced Baloo, instead.

[@kirara2516]

Tornado1994 he sounds pretty close, at it never bothered me.

[@wattsink2009]

Actually, it’s a bit unfair to declare that Don Bluth was talking down to his audience, or at least to implicate that part of it was entirely his decision. I have read from various sources that, originally, the Grand Duke was supposed to be more threatening, Goldie was supposed to be more alluring, and there was no narration. All of those things were changed under the demand of the studio, due to the responses from focus groups and test screenings.

[@jacobschweitzer1068]

I agree I never felt like this movie was calling me stupid. To say that the movie does talk down to it's audience feels like the person is too lazy to do research

[@Thunderblock7889]

"Goldie was suppose to be more alluring". Wait, where there zoophiles amongst the writers?

[@orangeslash1667]

@@Thunderblock7889 She kinda looks like the bird version of the girl from Dragon's Lair.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

It's always astounded me...the whole reason Don Bluth left Disney and made The Secret of NIMH was that he felt Disney wasn't living up to its past and its animated movies had gone downhill. He wanted to make the kind of movie Disney had stopped doing. He succeeded with NIMH, American Tail, Land Before Time and All Dogs...but then Disney had its great late-eighties-early-nineties renaissance, and Bluth, despite a brief return to form with Anastasia, crashed and burned. I wonder what the reason was? (I'm given to understand that before Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Bluth was working on a version. It would have hewed a little closer to the plot of the original fairy tale, but it would have included characters like a bird detective and an escape-artist lizard. There's also concept art out there for a planned-but-scrapped adaptation of the fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon--of which, I'd kill to see a big-screen animated version.)

[@koriabrams6243]

I heard somewhere that apparently some people started complaining that his movies were too scary for kids, so starting with Thumbelina, Bluth started toning down his films. Biggest mistake he ever made.

[@connorbrennan4233]

I can guess one reason Bluth fell from grace: at that time, Disney was making films with epic stories that for the most part taught lessons for children to carry into adulthood through good entertainment while the adults could appreciate both the filmmaking and the intelligent themes. Plus, the stories earned their darker moments, especially The Lion King. Meanwhile, Bluth's films at that time contained smaller, more saccharine premises that adults would reject and only really little kids would enjoy. Just put the premises of The Lion King and A Troll in Central Park right next to each other as both came out the same year. One shows the growth and maturation of a young lion as he learns universal lessons and experiences happiness, tragedy, exile, love, and redemption, all on the journey to become a true king. The other is about an overly happy and goofy troll who does nothing but dance with walking flowers and encounters two obnoxious little kids while dreaming unrealistically of a completely saccharine world. I think it's easy to guess which film almost everyone would rather watch.

[@robbiewalker2831]

Connor Brennan let God deal with the Saccharine World concept; that’s his job, thank you.

[@BrightWulph]

@@koriabrams6243 That wouldn't surprise me if that was the case. I know when I was a kid (mid-'90s) I was both horrified and enraptured by The Secret of NIMH, yet my sister was terrified of the movie, she would refuse to watch it with me.

[@thomashuffman3237]

Connor Brennan And, to compare Scar with Gnorga: One is an evil uncle who kills his own brother and exiles his own nephew to become King, because of jealousy, which was presumably caused by neglect he suffered when he was young (the Broadway musical version of TLK implies that), and he had a kickass villain song, and a solid performance given by Jeremy Irons. The other is just the typical kid's movie villain who does what she does solely because she's evil and that's it. Also, hates flowers just because the plot demands it. Which sounds like a better villain? (Not to toot my own horn, but, I think we can all agree it's Scar who's the superior villain)

[@TheBattlesword]

Fun fact: this movie was supposedly in development hell since the 1940s. Disney kept putting it off due to budget constraints until they ultimately gave up, the only surviving things left being concept art and reused concepts that Bluth, having then left family friendly Weyland-Yutani, harvested for this movie (also, the bard from the animated Robin Hood was based on Chanticler's original designs)

[@mileidyclass]

This is like, Don Bluth's Home on the Range.

[@Tornado1994]

But better .

[@moonkitty420]

does that mean a troll in central park is don bluths foodfight?

[@kieranstark7213]

And Trolls is DreamWorks Animation's Trolls, but the only DreamWorks Animation film that is more weak is Shark Tale.

[@gracekim1998]

Mileidy Class he made home on the range?!

[@chrisbrasel9049]

Every artist will make a misfire once in a while as love don bluth still.

[@CalvinChikelue]

Maybe it’s silly but despite cooling on this movie in the decades since I saw it as a kid, I still get a few goosebumps & enjoy the climactic scene where Chanticleer recovers his voice & resolve & finally crows to return the sun. Something about the mix of the animation & music at that moment synthesizes harmoniously & makes it the best & most effective scene in the film IMO

[@newbiegamelover4767]

So, they banned all birds to keep the main cast out, but wouldn't that also include Chanticleer and Goldie?

[@KaeMcSpadden]

RIP Glen Campbell.

[@kieranstark7213]

Hey! All these musicians are as top-notch!!!!!

[@oats4632]

He was one hell of a wife-beater

[@isobelmiller7464]

15:09 I really love Nostalgia Critic's line in this part of the movie, during his review of it: "Then the sun turns the evil Duke of Owls into...Cartman, from South Park"

[@CJCroen1393]

"Peepers and Snipes are condemned to be the subject of terrible shipping fanfiction" You say that like they aren't already! XD

[@Stephen-Fox]

Even if they have to take large liberties to turn short pieces of prose into 87 minute films, there are reasons that Disney actually, you know, bases it's films on fairytales rather than does sequels to obscure ones that sum up the source material in about 2 minutes of screen time.

[@matthintz9468]

The animation and Glenn Campbell songs are the best thing about this film.

[@ShanteYouStay]

Why do some of the main characters have such unusual names? Plus the big breasted chickens looked nasty.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

Some of the unusual names come right from the Rostand play--Patou was the barnyard dog's name in the play. (The name does look distinctively French.)

[@shahbanu-amestris]

Chanticleer was the traditional name of the rooster in European beast fables. The fox was Reynard, the wolf was Ysengrim, Tibert was the cat, and so on.

[@CJCroen1393]

I think you mean "tasty". Big breasts on a chicken always means more meat!

[@SW23252]

@@CJCroen1393 growth hormones.

[@janebyrne6463]

While you touched on Disney having the rights to Chanticleer and planning a movie that never came to fruition, in the 1973 Disney Film "Robin Hood", the artists used the Disney model of Chanticleer as Alan-a-Day and Reynard the Fox as Robin Hood.

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

I like to imagine what this movie would have been like if they framed it as old-music versus new music. Like, if the Owl's music was all opera themed and he was played by a real opera singer and his lines were written with more theatrical gravitas.

[@92JazzQueen]

Quick give the idea to an indie studio.

[@davidspring4003]

Wow, Phil, THIS was your last role? What made you look at this script and think “Yes, this is worthy of my time and effort!”?

[@Tornado1994]

He was like 86 years old when he was cast. Cut him some slack, man.

[@davidspring4003]

Yeah, i guess, but still, why would Phil Harris (one of my favorite comedians/musician) think THIS was worthy of his time after he worked with DISNEY? And Walt Disney HIMSELF (on Jungle Book, one of the last films Walt worked on directly.)

[@Tornado1994]

Harris I believe felt like he was going past his prime at the time this was made. Remember, in 1989, he had auditioned to reprise his role as Baloo in "Adventures of Captain Baloo"(The Working Title of TaleSpin whereas Tiny Toon Adventures' working title in '89 was Little Looney Tunes".) but demurred and asked Ed Gilbert to do it instead. Harris was extremely proud of Ed. In his Old age, Harris just didn't have it anymore. Which is odd, because Hal Smith voiced worked until his death in 1994, the man was nearly 90 when he died and STILL was able to voice act. While Legends Alan Young and June Foray were ABLE to reprise their roles in the Ducktales Remastered Video Game in 2013 while in their Mid 90s! BOTH even though they were obviously VERY old, its described that the Voice Artist Team drove both of them from the Hollywood Retirement Center in Woodland Hills to Burbank to record the voice over work, but though they were both in their Mid 90s, Alan(Who could no longer properly walk and had occasionally used a Wheelchair) and June(Who walked and waddled like an elderly woman) were VIBRANT and Cognitive! They remembered lines with 100% accuracy, delivered with energy and passion as if they were 30 years younger, and were able to get into their roles with absolutely no issues of any kind. It was AMAZING seeing how they both STILL Had it. At such an Old age. It was because they had been doing TV voice work for almost 60 years, and Radio Voice work since the 30s. The sad thing is that both Alan and June had requested in 2015 that they'd be able to do the First Season of Ducktales 2017 Reboot as a Dying Wish and Final Curtain Call. But Disney XD producers turned both of them down. Alan died suddenly from Heart Failure on May 19,2016 while talking to his family inside the Community Center in Woodland Hills(He collapsed to the Floor and fell out of his chair while he was talking), he died JUST as Voice Over sessions for Ducktales Reboot had begun June died in her Sleep on July 26,2017, she died a couple of short weeks before the Reboot's pilot had debuted.

[@chillplayer1234]

Tornado1994 Why did the Disney XD producers turn down June and Alan?

[@Tornado1994]

Because they already had in mind who they wanted to cast. Alan & June's Agent was never told by Disney XD that David Tennant and Catherine Tate had already been decided by The Network. Disney XD basically double crossed them, robbing them of they're dying wish. It was basically a very petty thing for Disney XD to do, especially since Alan and June were STILL able to voice work.

[@Smacgregor88]

The sad thing is Smallfoot did this too, to the point I said this to Danny Devito's character. "Look, it's coming up without him! You're a phony!" "A big fat phony!".

[@PrichOp789]

15:29-15:33 I think Chanticleer and Goldie's KIDS are sitting on the bottom of the fence he's standing on. I never noticed that until now.

[@RagisterMaskilMagist]

A detail about the the plot that I've noticed and have at least not seen anyone mention, is the true purpose of Chanticleer's crowing. It was never what woke the sun. And it's hinted in the song "Sun Do Shine" that the true purpose of his crowing was driving away storm clouds that would otherwise blot out the sun. "Cock-a-doo stay away! You big ol' wet ol' rain cloud! Or I'll cry out loud with this voice of mine!" Which is why storm cloud are what The Duke utilizes to blot out the sun. Sad that none of the reviews that I've seen so far have mentioned/noticed this, as I did actually enjoy this movie as kid :

[@TheNotverysocial]

The Terminator reference at the phone book scene 8:36. Don Bluth films can be summed as this: Good: The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, and All Dogs Go To Heaven. The bad: Most of his 1990s films. Anastasia being alright.

[@jesusrox4u]

I actually enjoy this film. It’s admittedly a weaker film, but it’s a guilty pleasure for me, and best of all, it’s not A Troll In Central Park, which might be the worst animated film I’ve ever seen. It makes The Emoji Movie seem like a Pixar film and it makes Food Fight seem like the same thing in comparison.

[@blondbraid7986]

Even worse than Food Fight? At least A Troll in Central Park didn't contain a scene where a Nazi officer peed on himself and enjoyed the experience or was chock full of product placement for junk food aimed at children.

[@jesusrox4u]

Gertrud Bondesson In defense of Food Fight, if you’re in the right mind set, it can be a “so bad, it’s good” film.

[@Tornado1994]

Food Fight's BIGGEST fatal flaw is its tasteless,godawful script. Its why it got shelved for 7 years and why Larry Kassanoff came up with that bullshit story about the Hard Drives being stolen. A Troll in Central Park is just ANNOYING and contrived. Its on the same level as Patch Adams and Simon Birch as Sappy Manipulative bullshit.

[@jesusrox4u]

Tornado1994 For me, Food Fight is one of those so bad, it’s good films. Yes, it’s stupid, but for me, it’s enjoyably stupid.

[@valerievargas1548]

Hey remember me?

[@EliseArainai]

The lack of shadows on the cartoon characters, or even lack of shading in general, is driving me up a wall! I only saw shadows once or twice, and that was it! >.

[@phousefilms]

"Jeepers! I'm a furry!" Me:(Takes a deep breath)No. They could have said the sun rose because the Dukes magic was what made the sun rise the one time, but nooooOOOOooo.... Also, any song that has "Twiddly dee"as a lyric isn't going to be good(paraphrasing NC).

[@Demolitiondude]

Wait. Snipes is mandark!

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

Paladin Demo Jeez, I thought he'd be content with being smart Aleck know it all (that has a crush on the sister of his archenemy) on a kid's cartoon.

[@Demolitiondude]

Reapermaskhybrid maybe mandark needed a break.

[@colleen4ever]

Technically this was made BEFORE Dexter's Labratory.

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

Paladin Demo Yeah, I guess so.

[@MrGabeanator]

why yes

[@QueenCheetah]

This film might've had a good message if it was proven in the end that Chaunticlair (sp?) DOESN'T bring the sun up by crowing, but that it's still quite important as he wakes up the farmer and all the other animals who care about him. I would've loved if this movie didn't have the owls as major antagonists at all. If the main issue was just Chaunticlair being so hung up on his belief of his 'vital-ness' to the rising of the morning sun being shattered, this might've been a great film. The kitten could be the farmer's son wishing on a star to bring back their only rooster, which changes him into an animal since evidently humans can't communicate with animals in this world. The kid is the only one who can make a heart-felt plea to Chaunticlair (as he understands more about how the farm works than the animals; and that they need a rooster to stay in business) but no-one knows where he went after they mocked his beliefs. So the kid-ten and the others travel all across the country, facing tornadoes, flash floods, angry cattle, and all sorts of western-styled perils until they find Chaunticlair singing for a group of field mice and small critters. The critters have re-instilled Chaunticlair's belief in the whole 'sun-rising' nonsense, and they 'hire' him by paying him in stolen corn to sing all night (as they think this will keep the predators that prey on them away). But then a coyote or owl or something snatches the kiddy-cat, and Chaunticlair realizes his folly and saves the farmer's son by startling the enemy with a loud cry before attacking him with his spurs. The coyote/owl/whatever flees, and the animals all cheer while Edmund gives his little speech, leading to Chaunticlair returning to a grateful farm (and getting apologies from the other animals as well).

[@christopherwall2121]

Well, the Duke is in the play this is based on, though his only role in it was to sic the bad rooster on Chanticleer to humiliate him. I've always felt the fox ought to be the main antagonist, but maybe keep the Grand Duke around if you need a more exciting final confrontation than just ripping up a contract.

[@BloodylocksBathory]

I'm only just now noticing the ridiculously blatant voice actor reference with Hutch's sunglasses.

[@KrysMagic56]

Not gonna lie, this movie is my guilty pleasure

[@kieranstark7213]

That's a popular opinion. Just letting us all know.

[@Frisby2007]

There’s a reason why even Disney themselves didn’t go through with a Chanticleer movie (yes, they were trying to conceptualize a movie based on it, TWICE), because they found it difficult to make anyone give a damn about the damn rooster.

[@christopherwall2121]

Even throwing in Reynard the Fox only handed them more problems because Reynard is _such_ a bastard that you can't really root for him either. Which I think is why the Marc Davis version apparently turned it into a satirical political comedy where Chanticleer and Reynard run for public office.

[@argonaut640]

6:50 I thought you were gonna say that the Duke was busy composing the Final Boss Music for Super Mario 64.

[@johnvinals7423]

Also, ever notice how bad and inconsistent the character designs in this movie are. Why does the Duke only wear a cape? Why does Patou wear pants but no shirt (though that does answer the question of how a dog would wear pants), especially since it makes his walk look like a toddler with motor problems? What is with those weird rosy doll cheeks Don Bluth puts on all his child protagonists? Why do the frogs have giant lips that make them look like racist caricatures of African-Americans from the early part of the last century? Who approved of all these designs? How did Christopher Plummer and Ellen Greene get roped into this freaking mess?

[@blondbraid7986]

Not to mention the chicken showgirl who looks like a knockoff of Jessica Rabbit, really, none of the characters or environments look like they belong in the same movie. Plus, why does the cat/boy has dark rings around his eyes in his cartoon cat form? If they were trying to make it look like he has dark fur around his eye, it fails, he looks like he either got punched in the eye or put on too much eye shadow.

[@EYTPS]

Gertrud Bondesson "the chicken showgirl who looks like a knockoff of Jessica Rabbit" OK, I see your point there.... Though that chicken showgirl is still something to look at, eh, eh, wink, wink, nudge, nudge say no more?

[@blondbraid7986]

EYTPS Maybe, but is that really a character design appropriate for a kids movie?

[@EYTPS]

Gertrud Maybe not............ but does it have to be? Ya telling me kids can't handle a little sexiness? After all, we don't like to be *condescending in our kids movies* like Diva described earlier, eh? ;) The people at Playfur Cinema would be laughing at you for asking a question like that

[@johnvinals7423]

Also, Toby Scott Ganger as Edmund makes Jake Lloyd look like Maisie Williams.

[@MrWill9002]

3:56 Edmund: I'm not askin' God for anything! He still owes me an Xbox! (Couldn't resist! Love these reviews!)

[@datadoggieein]

Always being a fan of The Gaurdians of Ga'hoole, I always hated how all the villains where owls.

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

datadoggieein At least when a raven or crow is a villain, it makes sense (being scavengers and all).

[@asalways1504]

That, or they resort to using vultures as villainous birds.

[@thegayghost872]

Owls are creepy

[@jackolantern9034]

Ghostwriter creepiness doesn’t always equal badness.

[@BlueDragonknight375]

So was I! I love Guardians of Ga'Hoole! Hate the movie though.

[@amandapike2477]

"The City" is what Long Islanders and people in Westchester County call New York. You can even tell the 2008 animated Doctor Strange was written by a native New Yorker because the Tibetan monk character calls it "The city."

[@SirBlackReeds]

To be fair to Bluth, he really isn't responsible for how this movie ended up. He had little control over the final product. I thought The Pebble and the Penguin was finished in Hungary. The opening sequence is fine. It's everything that happens afterward that's the problem. Chanticleer's a decoy protagonist. I'm surprised she didn't mention of the more interesting details about this film: the finger point that Edmond does in the end is a callback to the one that Chanticleer does in the beginning. Also, apparently Pinky (voiced by Boss Hogg) is based off of one of Elvis's managers.

[@RenaDeles]

I love this movie far more than I should, I'm sure part of that is seeing it first as a kid, but even revisiting I'm still weak to it. Including being weak to Chanticleer

[@michaelbeaudoin1518]

I died every time you said “THE CITY.” 😂

[@MrWill9002]

15:05 God: GOD HEARS YOU, CHANTICLEER. I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE THE PLANETS ROTATE OUT OF ORDER. I WAS JUST FUCKING WITH YOU.

[@garthst.claire3459]

Woah...that was actually one of the first movies I ever watched (along with the original Land before Time) I actually really loved both of these movies (you know as a kid you don't realize when bad things are bad) with the difference that I eventually forgot that Chanticleer existed...until now. I'd need to watch it again but what I remember is that, unlike the Troll in Central Park, which was too saccharine for me even as a kid, this movie COULD have been decent if they had dropped the life action bits and revised the script a few times, dropped half of the animal sidekicks and wrote better villain songs. There''s also a logic error...even when it's raining, the sun has still risen...it's just on the other side of those clouds... and I'm not an expert in owls, but I doubt they enjoy torrential rain storms for hunting... And I agree that the very first part of the movie has waaay too much going on in waaaay to little time, because I don't remember one bit of it.

[@josephrowe849]

Unfortunately, his room is overrun by root beer. Plankton's family: ROOT BEER!?!?!

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

I love how they hired a kid who can barely speak properly and made him the MAIN character. Totally a trait i want in an actor

[@c.w.r.794]

Hello rejected Disney ideas! That Disney now owns!

[@GatorRay]

+TheatreGeek are you kidding me. Disney owns this film now?

[@RhythmGameAddict]

No, but I believe they own the rights to adapt the Chanticleer story to film.

[@GatorRay]

Sorry I was confused.

[@fantaghiro1389]

I have Rock a Doodle as a guilty pleasure (i'm specially fond of the instrumental score, the brasilian portuguese dub that saved the movie, yeah i am a brazilian who learn english trough KZbin shows like yours, the animation and the side characters) and consider the songs of Anastasia good but it' s script is on the side of the movies that pandered the audience.

[@NintendoHighSchool]

Hoping Descendants 2 comes onto the chopping block soon.

[@Purplefire0796]

Team Rocket yes I hope it would help my sane from Pokémon ultra moon and Beast fight club in wizard101

[@healerofthewaters6508]

So long as she doesn't review 3... That wound is still too fresh. R.I.P Cameron...

[@eoghanfeighery7383]

13:14. And we go from "Sure, why not" to "What the FUCK?!" I'm using that for WTF moments I see.

[@berkleypearl2363]

For some reason the thing that makes me the most angry is the perpetuation of the myth that roosters only crow in the morning. I have roosters. They crow all freaking day. I’d love it if they forgot to make as much noise as possible the second they wake up in the morning!

[@keshiaanders6452]

It still bugs me that they have Glenn Campbell to play a main character & sing a lot of songs for the soundtrack; Yet all of his songs in the movie were either cut short or covered by too much dialog; and Chanticleer is barely in the movie most of the time. And the first complaint is the same problem with the movie "Rio," the good/decent songs are cut short while the kept the worst song (s) full in the movie.

[@sesfilmsllc]

7:21 AAAAnd any hint of seriousness that these villains were trying to convey has been flushed down the toilet. Also to quote the Nostalgia Critic, “ These are the gayest villains ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

[@sesfilmsllc]

And this is coming from a bisexual.

[@ilikecurry2345]

"No, you cannot have a villain song begin with twiddley dee! Go back and try again!"

[@gageperuti5519]

I just realized: Pinky bans birds from his club, even though Chanticleer and Goldie are birds.*Face palm*

[@tultsi93]

That's what I thought!

[@frisbyart]

The review basically summarizes the entire film's problems perfectly. I watched it a couple years ago, and I wanted to like it because the idea wasn't that bad, but as Diva put it, WHY NOT is the majority of what happens in this movie, and "WHO CARES?!" was the majority of my reaction too. Plus, I'm glad I wasn't ever alone as to why there was the stupid live action scenes in the film.

[@shaunakei28]

Nothing like a good Bluth Acid Sequence- he learned from the best.

[@berrypie11]

I've seen the majority of Don Bluth's movies, with this being one of the couple I have yet to watch. Honestly, with how weird and messy it looks, I'm not sure if watching it would be worth it. I do feel a genuine sense of curiosity, since it's Don Bluth, but I don't think I'll get any enjoyment out of it. But then again, with the stuff I heard about The Pebble and the Penguin, I didn't think I'd enjoy that either. But I actually ended up loving it. So, maybe I'll give this a watch at some point, just to see how bat shit crazy it really is.

[@Tornado1994]

Bluth's films (Except A Troll in Central Park and Pete's Dragon) have a certain CHARM to them. My 2 favorite being An American Tail & Secret of NIMH, and yes, I like Rock-A-Doodle. Its a Guilty Pleasure of Half baked,pretentious,far-fetched nonsense.

[@SirBlackReeds]

If you're a true Don Bluth fan then you have to watch it at least once. You can find it on Netflix, or for free somewhere on the internet, possibly KZbin or Internet Archive; definitely KissCartoon.

[@erainmartinez8175]

Fun Fact did you know this was Phil Harris's last acting moment voicing the dog before he kick the bucket?

[@Chrisheart322]

My favorite musical reviewer is still going

[@ilikecurry2345]

yes hello i am real lysandre

[@Chrisheart322]

The #6 Runaway Guys Fan ok, nice to meet you

[@mintstarmari]

If Bluth ever gets to return to his filmmaking career, he should consider adding the dark undertones his earlier films had (That’s what made NIMH great)

[@yrooxrksvi7142]

Absolutely agreed, especially in today's market where there's an overabundance of either dumb kiddy garbage or pretentious tryhard to be funny or self-aware comedy, from either Disney or Illumination. I was checking Racso And The Rats of NIMH lately (the official sequel to the novel upon which The Secret of NIMH was based). I'm still very early into the book, but it seems a bit of a daunting task to adapt it in film form. Racso is Jenner's son, and in the books, Jenner was simply a disgruntled separatist that moved back to the city with some followers, instead of a scheming villain who wanted to stay in the rose bush. Nicodemus is still alive. There's also the unfortunate circumstance that half of the original voice cast has passed away (though perhaps Derek Jacobi could still portray Nicodemus in flashbacks). If you want some links to get a better picture, feel free to ask, cuz I was thinking about a possible adaptation that ignores that garbage Secret of NIMH 2 sequel, and I'd like to hear suggestions.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 He's working on the Dragon's Lair Movie.

[@supermariof0521]

Here's an idea for "Musical Hell". "Thomas the Tank Engine: The Great Race".

[@cyclonecat2556]

Does that movie have any songs? Sorry if that sounds stupid but I don't think I've heard of it.

[@supermariof0521]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWXdq5iQhbp4jdU

[@eatatjoe]

Oh my Heavenly God this movie's so saccharinely bad not even Heaven and the one circle of hell dealing with Crapsaccharine Worlds wants it.

[@connorbrennan4233]

Saccharine was exactly the word I was thinking to describe it.

[@eatatjoe]

@@connorbrennan4233 It's just...an exercise in futility.

[@EYTPS]

6:51-6:55 Whoa, I think I now know where Koji Kondo got the organ sound for the final boss theme of Super Mario 64

[@thema1998]

EYTPS Depends on the year this shit came out. "Super Mario 64" came out in 1996.

[@EYTPS]

Andrew Del Pilar Actually, the Super Mario 64 sounds came from the Korg M1, so the Don Bluth team must have used that for the organ sound for this film

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

EYTPS Sweet.

[@kieranstark7213]

Super Mario 64 for the N64 aged more than most other Nintendo games as well as the N64 in general, but Super Mario 64 for the N64 aged from a near-masterpiece to a good-to-great video game). Rock-A-Doodle, however, I guess after all, even though I did not notice, I was trying to be nice and honest at the same time by telling Glen Campbell (yes, I spoke with him about many things including Selena Gomez) that I gave Rock-A-Doodle a 5/10. And it is incredible how easy-going Glen Campbell is.

[@JaesadaSrisuk]

What a wonderful way to start the new year, O Terrible Diva! Edit: these character designs may have inspired quite a few ‘80s kids to be furries.

[@tzufbb]

In short, in this movie's end the sun came up, but the light inspiration and the beauty of Bluth's heart seemingly never truly returned. You get it the sun ascension joke ?

[@GatorRay]

I'm still waiting for you to tear The Pebble & The Penguin a new one.

[@Tornado1994]

I'm waiting on Secret of NIMH 2, Quest For Camelot and even Graffiti Bridge.

[@GatorRay]

+Tornado1994 Oooh those are also good choices for her to cover in the future.

[@thefaceofscience677]

I actually really rather liked the “We Hate the Sun” song

[@quintinbrakebill8875]

12:08-12:16 why is there a tiger skin rug? Aren’t the animals people in this world. This would be like a rug made of human hide which is pretty disturbing.

[@Genin99]

When I first heard about this movie, I couldn't understand what the plot was and from this review, I could see that Rock-A-Doodle is a fever dream.

[@xxeruss3080]

So close to 10k!!! Been here with ya since the beginning. It's amazing to watch one of your favorite channels grow.

[@fionathefox1235]

Goldie Looks like Princesses Daphne form Dragon's Lair wich is not a huge surprise form Don Bloth but it's also lazy

[@EYTPS]

Well, it's still something to look at like Daphne ;)

[@SirBlackReeds]

It's not like the film had a huge budget. Sheesh.

[@nicholasdruce5346]

R.I.P Christopher Plummer (1929 - 2021)

[@sallyversace]

Oh man, I loved this movie, even though it scared me, and I thought the "lousy" villain songs were terrifying.

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

11:56 - "And Hunch shows up to torment them . . ." You mean he shows up to torment US.

[@robbiewalker2831]

7:22 - 7:39: It's more like having one song being separated into two. Other than that, I find "Twiddle Lee Dee" and "the Owls' Picnic" silly. Now please, pass the pork.

[@heatherlyons6653]

THIS WILL ALWAYS HE MY GUILTY PLEASURE AND CHILDHOOD I LOVE IT BUT ITS MY OPINION

[@amiefortman7220]

Apparently a big part of the reason for the live-action sequences feeling unpolished was because Don Bluth had to direct a big chunk of them himself, despite having no live-action experience. They'd originally hired Victor French from "Little House on the Prairie" to direct those scenes, but his terminal lung cancer meant he couldn't complete them. And Bluth was reportedly so uncomfortable that he went tearing back into the animation studio after his first day on set.

[@capedchampion7659]

Man, I loved this movie as a kid, and it scared the shit out of me. It has an amazing Norwegian dub though. Weirdly, I loved this and A Troll in Central Park way before I knew who Don Bluth (or even Walt Disney) was.