Hercules

Year: 1997
Running time: 93 minutes
Certificate: U
Language: English
Screenplay: Ron Clements, John Musker, Don McEnery, Bob Shaw, Irene Mecchi
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
Starring (voices): Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, Josh Keaton, Roger Bart, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Bobcat Goldthwaite, Matt Frewer, Rip Torn, Samantha Eggar

"I'm a damsel. I'm in distress. I can handle this. Have a nice day."

An underrated entry into the Disney Classics range, Hercules is a lot more fun than its reputation suggests. King of the gods Zeus (Rip Torn) is celebrating the birth of his newly born baby Hercules with his wife Hera (Samantha Eggar) and all of the other gods on Mount Olympus when Hades, god of the underworld (James Woods) turns up to wish the little tyke well in his own special way. Meaning planning his murder. Failing evil overlord 101 however, he entrusts the deed to his clearly useless underlings, Pain (Bobcat Goldthwaite) and Panic (Matt Frewer), who, true to form, screw it up. Abducting baby Hercules they fail to feed him all of the poison specially brewed to make him mortal (all but the final drop), and he retains his godlike strength.

Thus, we have a nice little set up for our man to grow up and go on a quest to become a true hero and reclaim his place among the gods. Dismissed by his peers with mutters of "Jerkules", called a freak by adults when he's unable to control his strength, his adoptive parents explain how they found him and off he goes to find Philoctetes ("Call me Phil") (Danny DeVito) on the advice of his real dad. Phil is convinced by a well-placed lightning bolt to train Hercules in the way of the hero. Needless to say, our hero saves the day, prevents Hades' hostile takeover and learns that selflessness is the true meaning of heroism, but we don't half have some laughs along the way.

"Uh, guys? Olympus, would be that way."

The writing and voice acting is sharp and has boundless energy – particularly James Woods as Hades, playing him relentlessly sarcastic and quick to anger (his hair, after all, is made of fire). The humour has a dry wit not often seen in Disney fare, with some great lines, brilliantly delivered, for example when our hero first meets Meg (Susan Egan), Hercules' refreshingly competent love interest, the line “Thanks for everything Herc. It’s been a real slice”, is positively dripping with a self-assured dismissal of this lunk-headed man come to rescue her.

In addition, the style of animation is unique amongst Disney Classics, being conceptualised by English animator Gerald Scarfe, marking it out amongst its peers in a really effective way. Two thumbs way, way up.

Score: 7/10

There are good and bad reviews out there for Hercules - see this one from Entertainment Weekly for a good, and this one from James for a bad. This is not really surprising considering its middle of the pack spot in Disney's Classics range.