Rescuers Down Under: Darker Than I Remember!

Okay, so, I just re-watched "The Rescuers Down Under" for the first time in like, forever. As a kid, I remember it being cute and fun, you know, classic Disney. But watching it now? Holy moly, that Percival McLeach is a straight-up villain! Like, seriously, I think he's even more menacing than some of the classic Disney baddies. That scene where he's dangling Cody over the crocodile pit? Yikes! It's like, the 90s were experimenting with pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable in kids' movies...but somehow it never felt too inappropriate. I think it was all the hilarious supporting characters that balanced it out (Frank and Wilbur were great). I gotta say, the animation holds up really well, especially compared to some other stuff from that era. The Australian outback scenes are gorgeous - the colors just pop. I did find myself comparing Bernard and Bianca to Abbott and Costello a few times...or maybe even Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn from 'Bringing Up Baby' (another classic!) but yeah, they have that bickering-but-ultimately-in-love dynamic that's always a winner. One thing that bugged me a bit now (that didn't when I was a kid) is that it feels kinda...isolated from the first movie? Like, they barely even mention the Rescue Aid Society headquarters or anything. I know it's a sequel and supposed to stand alone, but a little more continuity would've been cool. Also, did anyone else think Jake, the kangaroo mouse, was a bit of a try-hard 'cool guy'? I feel like he was trying a little too hard to be James Bond...or something. Maybe it's just me. Overall though, still a solid watch! It's got adventure, some pretty tense moments to be fair, and those amazing visuals. It's a pretty fun throwback, even if it's a little darker than my childhood memories painted it. Def worth revisiting if you're feeling nostalgic and, heck, it's one of the few kid's movies that doesn't annoy me too much when my niece makes me watch it.