Animated: An orphaned kitten teams up with a group of dogs to live off the street.
PLOT:
Oliver (voice of JOEY LAWRENCE) is an abandoned kitten who meets up with Dodger (voice of BILLY JOEL), a member of a pack of stray dogs. They work (stealing food or goods) for their "owner," Dorman who is paying off his debt to a local mafia-type crime boss. During one of their jobs, they come across a limo with a little rich girl, Jenny, inside. She ends up finding Oliver and instantly adopts him. The animals "owner" finds this to enticing to pass on, so he sends Jenny a ransom note asking for money in exchange for Oliver. In the end, the little girl is kidnaped by the crime boss and must be rescued by Oliver and other animals.
WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Yes. If they like animated movies -- although this older film's (1988) quality isn't up to speed with the later Disney flicks.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G
For not containing any material that would warrant a higher rating.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
The main cast is comprised of animated animals, so it's doubtful that kids will see them as role models. However, if they do, the "street animals" that Oliver encounters steal to survive so that's one thing to watch for.
Oliver is almost washed down a storm sewer drain after being washed out of his box during a thunderstorm.
Oliver, alone in NY city, comes across a pack of wild dogs that chase after him, barking and growling with their teeth barred. One takes a bite at Oliver who just barely escapes.
A pair of Dobermans threaten Oliver and the other animals.
Dorman, the "owner" of the animals, teeters on the side of a bridge while being menaced by the local crime boss.
Jenny says she’s scared and lost (while looking for the ransomed Oliver).
The entire end of the movie is a kidnaping, escape, and chase-filled scene that kids will find rather suspenseful.
One of the animals is electrocuted twice (while biting through electrical wiring) and ends up being singed and smoking -- yet this scene is played for laughs and there are no lasting effects. It could give the wrong impression to kids about playing with electrical wiring.
Dodger and Oliver conspire to steal hotdogs from the street vendor and get away with it. This could give the wrong impression about stealing.
A Doberman calls a pudgy dog "fat boy." Other phrases used: "Bug eyed creep," and "Stupid."
One of the animals strikes another, Tito, and then misses on his second swing.
Tito is kicked by another dog.
Tito is slapped by Jenny’s dog and ends up falling down the fire escape.
A pair of dobermans are sicked on a man and Dodger comes to the rescue and fights with the dogs. At the end of the scene, Dodger lies lifeless on the floor (but is okay later on).
The local crime boss abducts Jenny and drags her into his car. Later he ties her hands behind her back while she’s sitting in a chair.
The entire end of the movie is a big rescue and chase scene with fighting, escapes and the crime boss being hit head on by a train. His car explodes in a huge fireball and plummets into the river.
![[Logo]](/images/screenit_logo2.jpg){kind=logo}
