Oliver & Company

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: November 18, 1988

CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION

58	METASCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

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Critic Reviews

Critic score Publication By date

Rita Kempley

Oliver & Company, the directorial debut of veteran animator George Scribner, is Mouse Factory magic with edge. It's the claws ce'le`bre. Read full review

Bob Thomas

Oliver and Company is the most fully realized animated film from the Disney Co. since 101 Dalmatians. It is inspired entertainment in all departments: characters, animation, comedy, plot and voices. [28 Nov 1988]

Peter Stack

The film offers a fanciful, lush urban setting, unusual for Disney animated features, and a couple of good songs, Once Upon a Time in New York City performed by Huey Lewis and Perfect Isn't Easy sung by Midler. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Take the kids. Have fun. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Cornball adventure ensues, punctuated by healthy helpings of singing, dancing and general merriment. Read full review

Charles Solomon

A bright, upbeat comedy that should appeal to audiences of all ages. [18 Nov 1988, p.1]

Jonathan Rosenbaum

The animation is fairly unexciting though serviceable, and the overall mystification of class difference would probably have made Dickens shudder, but kids should find this tolerable enough. Read full review

Gene Siskel

The musical voices belong to Billy Joel and Bette Midler, respectively, but this material is far afield of their best work. As a result, a Chihuahua (voice by Cheech Marin) steals the movie with wisecracks. [18 Nov 1988, p.A]

Marie Mahoney

Danger's never clear and present, but rather a convention. Simply put, Oliver & Company didn't work for me not because I'm many years past my sixth birthday but because it never scared me into forgetting that fact. Read full review

Barry Walters

Oliver & Company comes across as a rather shabby transitional work, one that lacks the sophistication of today's 'toons and doesn't hold up to the Disney classics of yesteryear. Read full review

TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)

Although Oliver & Company is fairly entertaining and better looking than the average Saturday morning cartoon show, the computer-assisted animation is relatively stiff and inexpressive. Read full review

Vincent Canby

It's not that Oliver and Company is not up to par. It actively denies its own unique heritage. [18 Nov 1988, p.C8]

Russell Stamets

Ho-hum animation, ordinary characters and a plot that included the kidnapping and the terrorizing of a little girl leave one wondering if Disney can create even the slightest bit of its old magic. [18 Nov 1988, p.7]

EmpireParticia Wilson

Lacks the classic Disney charm that works for adults as well as kids. Read full review

Eric Henderson

Oliver & Company is as out-of-touch as anything the studio ever made. Read full review