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Rating: 1 out of 5
Ooooh Rock-a-Doodle, how you hold a special place in my heart. In 1991, this children’s film dropped on the world. I didn’t see it in theaters as a kid, but I sure did watch it a ton at home. It came on TV, or my mom rented it. This was one of the films I picked for my little brother. There is a scene in the film where one of the characters repeatedly says, “Chanticleer.” I used to say it to my little brother in a diabolical way, and he would become scared and absolutely hated it.
As a kid, I thought this film was fun and excellent. What could go wrong with a rooster who is an Elvis impersonator that makes the sun rise every day? I was highly entertained by this film growing up because it was colorful, funny, and kept me distracted. I would’ve given the film five out of five stars, or whatever rating I would’ve had at a young age. Well, and a heavy sigh, I’m a grown-ass man now, and let me say that taste and becoming somewhat smarter change the way you see things. Let’s say this film is oh-so-bad and, once again, a head-scratcher for me.
Rock-a-Doodle is an animated film directed by Don Bluth, written by David N. Weiss, and loosely based on a 1910 comedy play called Chantecler by Edmond Rostand. It is primarily an animated film with live-action components sprinkled in. This wonderful and delightful film starts in good ole 1957, where Chanticleer, a rooster voiced by Campbell, is the envy of all the farm animals. This rooster dresses and signs like Elvis and has a hairstyle that would make even humans say DAMN! Every morning, Chanticleer sings, which makes the sun rise. One day, shit gets real when the Grand Duke of Owls, voiced by the great and legendary Christopher Plummer, who hates the sun, sends one of his flunkies to fight Chanticleer before the sun rises. Chanticleer manages to whip the flunkies’ ass but forgets to crow while the sun still rises. Seeing this, the other animals straight up roast and ridicule him. This causes Chanticleer to pack his stuff, throw up the deuces, and leave in shame. Well, the animals soon realize this was a mistake as the sun goes back down because Chanticleer had not crowed. Suddenly, significant rain and eternal darkness take over the land.
We soon realized that this was a fairy tale story read to a little kid named Edmond (Ganger) by his mother. Edmond lives on the family farm that is suddenly in danger of a storm. Edmond’s mother, father, and brother leave to assist with the flood, leaving Edmond alone. Edmond, believing in the story, runs to the window and calls for Chanticleer. Suddenly, he is greeted by the Duke, who is pissed at Edmond calling the old rooster’s name. The Duke uses his magical skills and turns Edmond into a kitten with the plan of eating him. Before that could happen, Patou (Harris), a basset hound, saves Edmond and drives away the Duke. Edmond then meets several of the farm animals who want to find Chanticleer and apologize to him. Edmond and several others decided to head to the big city in hopes of finding Chanticleer.
The story of this film resembles the life and times of Elvis. Why do I say that? Well, in the big city, Chanticleer becomes a big act, an Elvis impersonator, and is called “The King.” Yup, a rooster playing Elvis. Also, the villain is called the Duke, whereas the evil person in Elvis’s life was called the Colonel. In the big city, Chanticleer seems to be a little drugged out and is managed by a person named Pinky Fox. Fox employees a FOINE ass pheasant named Goldie who serves as a distraction. If I was a pheasant, gawd damn because Goldie is way out of my league. Goldie ends up falling for Chanticleer, and she starts giving hints to Chanticleer about what is going on. Chanticleer realizes what is happening, Pinky turns on his uncle, which I didn’t see, and helps everyone escape. How do they get back to the farm? Ride in a helicopter. We have officially hit a new level of what is going on.
It’s whatever, because back at the farm, my brother’s “favorite” part comes up. Edmond and the crew drive that helicopter right into the farm, and when they try to have Chanticleer crow, dude is depressed and doesn’t want to. This is where the Duke taunts the rooster, but Edmond chants the rooster’s name, “Chanticleer, Chanticleer, Chanticleer.” When the Duke tries to strangle Edmond, the others start chanting his name, and Chanticleer gives a crow like no other that makes the sun rise and water disappear. Yayyyy!
The film goes from cartoon to live action, back to cartoon, and then to a mix of both. The film has that 90s Don Bluth feel. It is drawn in dark tones with very few bright colors. Don Bluth has his own animation style, on the other side of the colorful, happy world of Disney films. I do like this type of animation because it is a change-up and shows that this film is dark and has serious tones.
I don’t want to keep writing about this film, because I hope to forget what I saw. If I were a little kid, this would still be a great film, but I’m not. Should kids watch this film? Sure, because it’s not as dark as An American Tail or even All Dogs Go to Heaven, but it is still not as friendly as a Disney film. If you want an excellent distraction for your kids, this one will do the trick. Where else can you watch an Elvis-like rooster?
