This animated take on Oliver Twist re-imagines Oliver as an adorable orphaned kitten who struggles to survive in New York City and falls in with a band of canine criminals led by an evil human. First, Oliver meets Dodger, a carefree mutt with street savoir faire. But when Oliver meets wealthy Jenny on one of the gang's thieving missions, his life changes forever.
Despite three screenwriters and 13 names credited for the story, the script quickly sinks into a predictable 'girl-meets-pet, girl-loses-pet, girl-and -pet-reunite' sap-trap.
– Susan Wloszczyna,
USA Today,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
The film offers a fanciful, lush urban setting, unusual for Disney animated features, and a couple of good songs.
– Peter Stack,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Jun 2002
fresh:
Even as a cartoon poodle, Bette Midler stops the show.
– Rita Kempley,
Washington Post,
13 Nov 2009
fresh:
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.