Mutant Reviewers from Hell do
"That's the gospel truth!"

1997 G / Animated Fantasy Directed by: Ron Clements & John Musker Starring: Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, James Woods

Tagline

A Comedy of Epic Proportions

Summary Capsule

Some skinny whiny guy beats up a few monsters and becomes a god.

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Amazon.com: DVD | Amazon.com: Soundtrack

Heather's Rating: So is this an audience or a mosaic?

Heather's Review: This ranks right up there as one of my favorites in the Snarky Disney Movies category. You see, I have two distinct groupings of Disney movies: Sweet, classic Disney (Aristocats, Jungle Book, the psychotropic drug trip that is Alice In Wonderland) and snarky Disney (Lion King, Hercules, The Emperor's New Groove). Snarky Disney is my favorite, for it is filled with jewels of social commentary, pop culture references and hilarious quotes. I have a soft spot for the saccharine goo that is classic Disney, but the MSTIE in me adores the quiptastic characters of Snarky Disney. Robots trapped in space, misshapen cartoon characters... tomato tomahto.

"It looks like he has cinnamon buns protruding from the sides of his head."

Charlton Heston was the narrator for this movie. The man really had a great voice, which isn't something you come across too often these days. Listening to him reminds me of Sumner from Gauntlet.

Nice. I got in an MST3K and a video game reference in the first two paragraphs!

As I was saying... Heston narrates the opening and explains that we're going to hear about the story of the great Hercules. Heston gets interrupted by some muses who tell him they'll take over from here, presumably so they can up the SAS-SAY! a notch. As far as Disney movie songs go, these ladies have my vote for talent and fun. They take on some mean harmony, and the energy of "A Star Is Born" really gets the audience pumped up for the movie. On that note (ha!), talk about creative license, pronouncing impossible as "imposple" so it'll rhyme better with "gospel". Speaking of that... the phrase "that's the gospel truth" gets highly annoying. It's in three of the eight songs.

I'm not crazy about this animation, mostly because of the way Hercules was drawn. Baby Hercules had Popeye arms, but Teenage Hercules was scrawny. Teen Herc's thighs were tiny and he had humungaloid calves. The worst thing was his ears. The ears REALLY bug me. They're over sized discs of flesh with swirls. It looks like he has cinnamon buns protruding from the sides of his head.

But hey, it's a very enjoyable movie. It's got a few musical numbers, but not as many as others I've seen from Disney. There's superb voice acting by James Woods, Rip Torn (best name ever), Susan Egan (she's also in Spirited Away!) and Danny Devito. Let's not forget Jim Cummings, who is probably my favorite current voice actor. Also, as you'll see below, there are lots of great quotes.

I've read a lot of complaints about the inaccuracies between the Disney version and the Greek mythology it's inspired by. I empathize, really I do. Especially about Hera. But it's Disney. What did you expect? Wanna make up a list of all their movies that grossly went off the path of the original story? How about making a list of EVERY movie in Hollywood that takes liberties with the source material? Yeah, have fun with that. And making the argument that it's giving kids incorrect information bugs me. THAT'S why you read to your children and encourage them to actually read and not get all of their education from a TV screen.

That said, you should watch this movie. So go forth all of you and sit in front of your TV screen!

It's not everyday you see hair shaped like a wishbone. Yeah, it's a nice location, but the commute's a PAIN Caught between a frock and a hard face

Didja Notice? [some sources: IMDb]

• To prove his worth to Philoctetes Hercules tosses a UFO out over the ocean.
• Gee, Danny Devito. Talk about an awkward song sequence.
• Ahaha. He got so mad he cooked an egg on his head. Ahahah... never seen that one before.
• That "I've got two words" running joke with Phil got real old. Real fast.
• Cute play on many popular product names. Herculade, Buns of Bronze, Air-Herc, Grecian Express card.
• The design of The Hercules Store looks a lot like the outside of The Disney Store. Just sayin...
• The lion skin Hercules wears while his portrait is being painted is Scar from The Lion King.
• So the Venus de Milo was created by a rogue skipping rock. Hmmm.
• How did he reach to pluck that flower out of the tree? It's not like he's super tall.
• The counter for the souls in the Underworld
• Philoctetes. Wow. Say it fast enough and it sounds like... never mind.

Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?

If you can stomach 3 minutes worth of Micheal Bolton you'll hear Hades goes on a little rant at the end. Also, at the end of the "thanks" section, they put "It's been a real slice" (one of Megara's lines in the movie).

Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]

Hades was scripted as a slow, menacing character until James Woods auditioned for the role and impressed the casting directors with his rapid-fire style. The script was rewritten, but Woods ad-libbed many lines.

When Phil and Hercules first enter Phil's hut, Hercules bangs his head on what Phil tells him is the mast of the Argo. In Greek mythology, Jason, the captain of the Argo, was killed when the mast hit his head.

WILHELM SCREAM: When the cyclops titan first starts crushing buildings looking for Hercules, a Wilhelm scream can be heard.

The wall painting in Alcmene and Amphitryon's bedroom is the famous "Spring Fresco" from the Greek island of Thera and can be seen at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

The role of Hades is one of James Woods' all-time favorite characters. So much so, any time Disney needs him to reprise the character for any cartoon show (including "Hercules: The Series") and video game (The "Kingdom Hearts" series), he has agreed to do so.

During the sequence "I Won't Say I'm In Love," Meg walks past busts of the five singing muses, one of which is broken. This is a reference to the five "Grim Grinning Ghosts" marble busts in the Haunted Mansion ride at Walt Disney World.

Groovy Quotes

Megara: Name's Megara. My friends call me Meg, at least they would if I had any friends.So did they give you a name along with all those rippling pectorals?

Megara: Oh how cute. A couple of rodents looking for a theme park.

Hades: I've got 24 hours to get rid of this bozo or the entire scheme I've been setting up for 18 years goes up in smoke and YOU ARE WEARING HIS MERCHANDISE!

Muses: That's the gospel truth! (Repeat ad nauseum)

Phil: I trained all those would-be heroes. Odysseus, Perseus, Theseus. A lot of "yeuseus."

Titans shambling away: Crush Zeus! Freeze him! Melt Zeus! Blow...him...awaaaayyyy!!! ZEUS! ZEEEUUUS!
Hades: Uh, guys? Olympus would be that way.
Titans (heading back the other way): ZEEEEEEEUUUUUUSSSSS!!!!!

Hades (to Cyclops): I have a special job for you, my optic friend.

Hades (In Ricky Ricardo accent): Zeusy I'm ho-ome!

Hades: I need somebody who can handle him as a man.
Megara: Hey, I've sworn off manhandling.

Hermes: Fabulous party. You know, I haven't seen this much love in a room since Narcissus discovered himself.

Hades: It's a small underworld after all, huh?

Panic (as little boy): Somebody call IX-I-I!

Hades: Ladies. Hah. I am so sorry that I'm...
The Fates, The Fates, The Fates: Late.
The Fates: We knew you would be.
The Fates: We know everything.
The Fates: Past.
The Fates: Present.
The Fates: And future.
The Fates: [aside, to Pain] Indoor plumbing. It's gonna be big.

The omniscient Fate Sisters(for about the thrid time): WE KNOW!
Hades(shouting): I KNOW you know.

Muse: He was so hot, steam looked cool.

Megara (to Hercules after the crowd of fangirls runs out the door): It's alright. The sea of raging hormones has ebbed.

Hades: Memo to me: Maim you after my meeting.

Hercules: Wow. What a day. First that restaurant by the bay. And then that, that play, that, that, that Oedipus thing. Man, I thought *I* had problems.

DVD Review

Pretty skimpy on the extras, though there's a decent "Making of Hercules" featurette. Other than that there's a music video of the Ricky Martin version of "Go The Distance". There's also a Film Recommendations section which is (surprise surprise) nothing but Disney titles.

Soundtrack Review

Well it's up against some major competition among other Disney offerings, but this whole soundtrack is strong. Minus the Michael Bolton song. I really don't miss the '90s.

If you liked this movie, try these:

• Clash of the Titans
• The Lion King
• Aladdin