My review of this film might have been far less kind had Disney's classical animation features not been on such a tremendous losing streak of late. Next to stinkers like Atlantis, The Emperor's New Groove and Teacher's Pet, it's impossible to condemn or even dislike a quaint, pleasant piece of family entertainment like Home on the Range.
It's easy to root for our three unlikely bovine heroines as they embark upon their quest to capture the infamous Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid) so they can use the reward money to save their quiet little farm, aptly called Patch of Heaven. And it's nice to see voice actors selected for their unique vocal traits rather than the star power they bring to the production (see Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas). Roseanne Barr, Jennifer Tilly, and Judi Dench are perfectly cast as the voices of Maggie, Grace, and Mrs. Calloway. Maggie is the bold and shockingly frank cow; Grace is the tone-deaf mediator; and Mrs. Calloway is the dignified one. Barr's line in which she refers to her udder as a woman would refer to her breasts single-handedly earned the film a PG rating, further proof that the MPAA is puritanically insane. I'm surprised Duck Tales wasn't rated NC-17 as none of the characters wear pants.
But it's refreshing to see a change from the typically safe Disney formula of two attractive romantic leads and a duo of cutesy, comic-relief sidekicks. Here, the plucky leads are properly proportioned cows, not mermaids with cover-girl measurements. And there's a large cast of quirky supporting characters which earns most of the movie's laughs. I especially liked Rico (Charles Dennis), a bounty hunter who could've taught Clint Eastwood a thing or two about being raspy and tough, and Buck (Cuba Gooding Jr.), the horse who so desperately wants to his favorite steed that a tear falls from his eye every time Rico saddles him.
With Pixar's digital features setting the standard for jaw-dropping visuals, Home on the Range avoids the competition by going for a different look, relying on character-expressing caricature rather than delicate aesthetics. It fits the overall mood, as does the country sound track, composed by Disney veteran Alan Menken. Ultimately, Home on the Range is a decent enough animated excursion into the Old West, even if it doesn't earn a spot on Disney's list of classics.