Have a lot of fondness for 'House of Mouse'. Love Disney and the concept was such an interesting and for Disney shows at the time a unique one. There are times where it could have done more with the concept, with showing more of some of the guests and not focusing all the featured cartoons on Mickey and the gang. It is however so much fun and how it makes an effort to retain the spirit of the classic old cartoons is to be lauded.
"Mickey and Minnie's Big Vacation" is not one of my favourite 'House of Mouse' episodes. It's certainly not one of my least favourites either, in a show where there is a lot to like about all of the episodes even when some are better than others. It is very good and entertaining even if it didn't blow me away. Really like that it and the rest of the show tries to and succeeds in making the personalities of Mickey and the rest of the gang true to those of their "golden age" ones when they first came out (1930s-1950s), especially Donald. Except that Mickey is far more interesting in personality in 'House of Mouse', feels like a lead character, is used well and isn't over-shadowed by the rest of the characters. Minnie is also more resourceful.
There is not much of Mickey and Minnie vacationing, the episode is more to do with preparing to go and trying to see the club is in order but the episode is far from dull and a lot happens to stop the slightness being a problem.
'Around the World in Eighty Days', though not one of my favourite longer featured cartoons, is entertaining and charming, with Scrooge serving as a good villain. John Cleese narrates thoughtfully, what keeps striking me is how incredibly good Cleese is at narration.
While too short, the "Donald's Dynamite" cartoons are lively and amusing. 'Fishing' is one of the better ones for me.
It is interesting always in 'House of Mouse' to see how it utilises various Disney characters from previous films and cartoons. Felt very nostalgic watching them and they are used well, including a nice short appearance from Ferdinand the Bull and a great gag involving Donald's mostly failed attempts at changing the club's name (the names themselves and Donald's reactions being instrumental in this). The highlight is the Pink Elephants sequence, with great use of Disney characters and a sequence that manages to be hilarious and trippy. This is all about really the story and the gang interaction, both great and the subject is a relatable and relevant issue today too.
While not surprising in outcome, the story is lively and engaging, kept afloat by the character interaction, characters and the atmosphere. The writing is clever and very funny, even with the deliberately corny moment and pun which made me grin rather than groan (here the whole overdrawn part applies particularly).
Furthermore, the animation is very colourful, smooth in movement and with some meticulous detail. The cheap recycling footage for the audience reactions at the end of the featured cartoons does jar and annoy though. The music is suitably groovy and cleverly used, while the theme song is one of the catchiest of any Disney show in the past twenty years.
Voice acting is very good as always.
Overall, well done and enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox
"Mickey and Minnie's Big Vacation" is not one of my favourite 'House of Mouse' episodes. It's certainly not one of my least favourites either, in a show where there is a lot to like about all of the episodes even when some are better than others. It is very good and entertaining even if it didn't blow me away. Really like that it and the rest of the show tries to and succeeds in making the personalities of Mickey and the rest of the gang true to those of their "golden age" ones when they first came out (1930s-1950s), especially Donald. Except that Mickey is far more interesting in personality in 'House of Mouse', feels like a lead character, is used well and isn't over-shadowed by the rest of the characters. Minnie is also more resourceful.
There is not much of Mickey and Minnie vacationing, the episode is more to do with preparing to go and trying to see the club is in order but the episode is far from dull and a lot happens to stop the slightness being a problem.
'Around the World in Eighty Days', though not one of my favourite longer featured cartoons, is entertaining and charming, with Scrooge serving as a good villain. John Cleese narrates thoughtfully, what keeps striking me is how incredibly good Cleese is at narration.
While too short, the "Donald's Dynamite" cartoons are lively and amusing. 'Fishing' is one of the better ones for me.
It is interesting always in 'House of Mouse' to see how it utilises various Disney characters from previous films and cartoons. Felt very nostalgic watching them and they are used well, including a nice short appearance from Ferdinand the Bull and a great gag involving Donald's mostly failed attempts at changing the club's name (the names themselves and Donald's reactions being instrumental in this). The highlight is the Pink Elephants sequence, with great use of Disney characters and a sequence that manages to be hilarious and trippy. This is all about really the story and the gang interaction, both great and the subject is a relatable and relevant issue today too.
While not surprising in outcome, the story is lively and engaging, kept afloat by the character interaction, characters and the atmosphere. The writing is clever and very funny, even with the deliberately corny moment and pun which made me grin rather than groan (here the whole overdrawn part applies particularly).
Furthermore, the animation is very colourful, smooth in movement and with some meticulous detail. The cheap recycling footage for the audience reactions at the end of the featured cartoons does jar and annoy though. The music is suitably groovy and cleverly used, while the theme song is one of the catchiest of any Disney show in the past twenty years.
Voice acting is very good as always.
Overall, well done and enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox