Aladdin

Voices of: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, Douglas Seale, Charles Adler
Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker
Rating: G
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
1992

Times Seen:
Tim: 5

Summary: A kind street boy (Scott Weinger) uncovers a magic lamp and an all-power Genie (Robin Williams) who will grant him three wishes.

Review:

Tim: I really believe Disney Animation's greatest all-time run of films was four films (out of five) released between 1989-1994. 1989 kicked off the Disney Renaissance with The Little Mermaid. You can skip 1990's The Rescuers Down Under (which was decent). 1991 was perhaps the greatest Disney animated movie of all time, Beauty and the Beast. 1994 delivered one of their most enduring movies, The Lion King. And sandwiched in the middle was Aladdin, a film that is perhaps surprising for being so unbelievably good. The film is adapted from the legendary "One Thousand and One Nights" and is just an instantly-enjoyable, utterly unforgettable movie. It feels like everything came together nearly perfectly to create this wonderful film.

It helps that the movie has such iconic characters. Aladdin with his little vest, his buddy Abu, the dreaming Princess Jasmine, the nefarious Jafar and Iago, and of course, the Genie. Having terrific characters is so essential for animated movies to succeed, and this movie hits an absolute home-run in this area. Aladdin is dashing and brave, yet kindhearted. Jasmine might be sheltered, but she's defiant, capable of self-sacrifice. Jafar just looks scary and his willingness to stop at nothing to accomplish his aims is frightening. Iago is both "bad" and yet also provides great comic relief. Each of these characters had depth to them, which helps them to be so memorable. The voice cast was quite strong, too, bringing each of these characters to life. You have to give a ton of credit to Gilbert Gottfried and his unmistakable voice- I always liked Iago more than I should have for a villain, and it's because of Gottfried's voice work.

And then, there's the Genie. It's interesting to write this decades later, knowing how Robin Williams' life would end. He created so many iconic characters over the years, but his Genie might be one of the most powerful, the most enduring. You can't say enough about how critical Williams' work was in this film. His over-the-top shenanigans, his ability to be big and loud, yet also so subtle and convey so much emotion makes the Genie something special. He's a character you love because he's fun, but care deeply about because he feels like a multi-dimensional person who has authentic feelings, hopes, and dreams. What Williams does with this role is nothing short of astounding. It's not hyperbole to say that it might be the greatest voice work in the history of the movies. He makes this character his own in a way that I've never seen before. I don't know if you would find anyone who loves this movie who wouldn't point to the Genie as a huge reason why. You can't say enough about how great Williams was in this role.

The music is jaw-dropping, too. Aladdin won two Academy Awards- for Best Original Score, and Best Original Song, for "A Whole New World". That song is so iconic, so unforgettable. I was able to sing most of the song even though I hadn't seen the movie in well over a decade. It's that good and that memorable. The animation that accompanied the song was superb- I can close my eyes and see Aladdin and Jasmine embarking on that magic carpet ride. It's a fantastic sequence and that song absolutely deserved to win. The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song for "Friend Like Me", a manic song that Williams worked wonders with. As an aside, the film received nominations for Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing. All this to say, the film was impressively embraced by critics.

I love Aladdin. It's a film that has stood the test of time- my four year-old was definitely a fan, 27+ years later (and so was I). Disney had made so many absolute classic films over the years, and Aladdin is absolutely one of those landmark films. This is a movie that combines adventure, romance, and drama, while exploring themes of class/wealth, friendship, and servitude, in an Arabian setting, set to some of the best music ever produced for an animated film. This is one of the all-time best animated films.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King