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"OLIVER AND COMPANY"
(1988) (Voices of Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel) (G)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
None Minor Moderate Moderate Minor
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Mild None Mild None None
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
None Minor Minor Mild Mild


QUICK TAKE:
Animated: An orphaned kitten teams up with a group of dogs to live off the street.
PLOT:
Oliver (voice of JOEY LAWRENCE) is an abandoned kitten who meets up with Dodger (voice of BILLY JOEL), a member of a pack of stray dogs. They work (stealing food or goods) for their "owner," Dorman who is paying off his debt to a local mafia-type crime boss. During one of their jobs, they come across a limo with a little rich girl, Jenny, inside. She ends up finding Oliver and instantly adopts him. The animals "owner" finds this to enticing to pass on, so he sends Jenny a ransom note asking for money in exchange for Oliver. In the end, the little girl is kidnaped by the crime boss and must be rescued by Oliver and other animals.
WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Yes. If they like animated movies -- although this older film's (1988) quality isn't up to speed with the later Disney flicks.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G
For not containing any material that would warrant a higher rating.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • The main cast is comprised of animated animals, so it's doubtful that kids will see them as role models. However, if they do, the "street animals" that Oliver encounters steal to survive so that's one thing to watch for.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • None.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • Oliver scratches an attacking dog, drawing some blood on its nose.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • The dog "gang" steals food and/or possessions for themselves and their "owner."
  • Their owner decides to hold Oliver for ransom to get money from the rich family.
  • The local crime boss is just plain bad and mean spirited (and kidnaps a little girl).
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • Oliver is almost washed down a storm sewer drain after being washed out of his box during a thunderstorm.
  • Oliver, alone in NY city, comes across a pack of wild dogs that chase after him, barking and growling with their teeth barred. One takes a bite at Oliver who just barely escapes.
  • A pair of Dobermans threaten Oliver and the other animals.
  • Dorman, the "owner" of the animals, teeters on the side of a bridge while being menaced by the local crime boss.
  • Jenny says she’s scared and lost (while looking for the ransomed Oliver).
  • The entire end of the movie is a kidnaping, escape, and chase-filled scene that kids will find rather suspenseful.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • The local crime boss pulls out a handgun and slips its clip in when he hears someone at the door.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • One of the animals is electrocuted twice (while biting through electrical wiring) and ends up being singed and smoking -- yet this scene is played for laughs and there are no lasting effects. It could give the wrong impression to kids about playing with electrical wiring.
  • Dodger and Oliver conspire to steal hotdogs from the street vendor and get away with it. This could give the wrong impression about stealing.
  • A Doberman calls a pudgy dog "fat boy." Other phrases used: "Bug eyed creep," and "Stupid."
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • There is some suspenseful music during the chase and fight scenes.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • None.
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • None.
  • SMOKING
  • A hot dog vendor smokes a cigar.
  • Tito, one of the animals, smells and mouths a cigar, but doesn’t light it.
  • The local crime boss smokes cigars throughout the movie.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Jenny, the little girl, is upset that her parents won’t be home for her birthday.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Kidnaping and abduction of a little girl.
  • Stealing to live off of the streets.
  • VIOLENCE
  • One of the animals strikes another, Tito, and then misses on his second swing.
  • Tito is kicked by another dog.
  • Tito is slapped by Jenny’s dog and ends up falling down the fire escape.
  • A pair of dobermans are sicked on a man and Dodger comes to the rescue and fights with the dogs. At the end of the scene, Dodger lies lifeless on the floor (but is okay later on).
  • The local crime boss abducts Jenny and drags her into his car. Later he ties her hands behind her back while she’s sitting in a chair.
  • The entire end of the movie is a big rescue and chase scene with fighting, escapes and the crime boss being hit head on by a train. His car explodes in a huge fireball and plummets into the river.



  • Reviewed April 5, 1996

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