Fievel Goes West

Fievel Goes West, the sequel to American Tail, is pretty cute, and it's something kids enjoy. However, as far as storytelling goes, it's a distant second to the darker and more emotional American Tail. This film is more like a long Saturday morning cartoon. It has its shining moments, but mostly it's a lighthearted romp.

While American Tail was a Don Bluth movie through and through, he wasn't involved in the making of Fievel Goes West. Instead, it was directed by Phil Nibbelink and Simon Wells. Having two directors could explain why the movie seems to pull in different directions. There are times when it's thoughtful and poignant, but then it meanders back to slapstick.

Although this movie is supposed to be about Fievel (Phillip Glasser), his sister Tanya (Cathy Cavadini) ends up stealing the show. She's the one who has a dream, and she evolves as a result of following that dream. Most of the movie's best moments focus on Tanya.

Wylie Burp (James Stewart) is another charming character who undergoes a personal transformation. He's a tired old sheriff dog who no longer has faith in himself. Later on he gets some of his fight back and is able to stand off against the bad guys one more time. Even Tiger (Dom DeLuise), the comic relief, grows a bit as a character.

Fievel, the star of the show, doesn't grow or transform at all. By the end of American Tail, you get the sense that this poor little mouse has endured so much and has grown through it all. By the end of Fievel Goes West, a lot of things have happened to Fievel, but it's unclear what he's learned or gained from it all.

Presumably, Fievel remains the brave yet reckless mouse he always was--except now he knows he doesn't need a cowboy hat to be a hero.