Seeing Spots (101 Dalmations)

I'm going to begin by stating my three favorite things about 101 Dalmations in no particular order: 1. The story is told from the perspective of a dog 2. Cruella DeVil is one of the best villains ever. 3. This is probably the first heist movie I'd seen.
I love dogs and I love dog stories. I am especially fond of this one as it is told from the perspective of a dog. This dog is Pongo. Pongo, true to a dog's nature, is highly loyal and incredibly smart. As the first scene opens the movie, Pongo watches out the window of a London flat where his owner, Roger, sits on a piano bench penning a new song. The scene, from the perspective of a dog lover and a songwriter, is one of charm and beauty.

As Roger states when he writes the Cruella DeVil song, the melody comes first and the words arrive later. He pounds the infectious tune on the piano and the lyrics appear due to the inspiration of a rotten woman named Cruella DeVil. She bursts into the flat wearing a black and white fur coat matching the black and white colors on both sides of her hair. Her face is skeletal and the green smoke from her cigarette pollutes the paths where she walks. The song perfectly encapsulates the greedy, filthy, scary character of Cruella DeVil.

A puppy heist! I saw this movie as a young kid, way before watching it again as an adult. I can't say I remember another animated heist movie. There is a sense of tension as the puppies are stolen and the chase is on. Thus enters bumbling henchmen and plot-thickening capers ensue.

Alicia and I watched this with our son, Keaton. It was wonderful to watch it with the eyes of a four year old present. Keaton cackled with glee at the bumbling attempts to contain the dogs during the escape scenes, and through his eyes, I remembered what I loved about Disney movies. The art has the magic that all Disney movies prior to 1970 and after 1985 have - but it has more - this is a Disney movie that has aged well - for many of the reasons that Alicia mentioned above. You know that I had to go here - but I actually thought this movie played better than the 1996 live action Glenn Close version. And the difference is the appeal to children - I just felt that the 1961 version had a slapstick bang-em-up feel - and it was fun to watch.

I find it interesting the horrid conflict which our faces heroes. Cruella wants the dogs to kill, skin and make coats out of the puppies. When you think about it's scary - and I wondered if Keaton even realized the consequences of Cruella successfully completing her plan. Upon further reflection, I realized that it really didn't matter. The magic of Disney is that regardless of the conflict, they instill in us a confidence in their heroes. We know they will overcome. Perhaps it's the bumbling nature of the villains. Perhaps it's the strength of the heroes.

More of the Disney magic could be the heroes, in this case, are dogs. Pongo and Purdy protecting their puppies and the puppies they find. The brood of other breeds of dogs heeding the call for help. I agree with Jason, in that, we know everything is going to be okay. We know this from the beginning and we are more interested in the journey. How will the puppies get back home not questioning if the puppies will make it back home.

I don't know if this is a favorite Disney movie of mine, but it is a classic that I still adore. I enjoy the vivid setting, the iconic villain, the songwriter, and strong sense of family. I was happy to watch it again, after many years, with Keaton. I'm sure we will watch it again.

That's the thing isn't it. We'll watch it again and again. Keaton will still laugh at it, and we won't mind watching this one time and again like one might Barney or what's the flavor of the year for toddlers. As a parent, I'd say buy this while you can - as we all know it's going back in The Disney Vault for ten years - if not more. So, he says, It's a Buyer. Even if you don't have children, it's fun and that fun lies in the presence of the villain. There's no doubt that we love to hate her!