Alternative Character Interpretation: Given McLeach's preference for non-native prey, such as the golden eagle or the invasive feral pig, it's entirely possible that he started out as some sort of government hired hand whose job was to control the invasive population and deal with wildlife trafficking (of which Marahute and her mate were almost certainly victims). When we first meet him, he's looking specifically for razorbacks, and while his trap is indiscriminate, it is a live trap rather than a kill trap, making it easy to release non-target creatures like Cody. Basically, he's not doing anything illegal at first (although we do see a "Wanted!" Poster of him that Cody didn't see). It's only when he kidnaps Cody and fakes the boy's death that we see what a Complete Monster he is. We only learn that he has no interest in returning the golden eagles home when he confesses to shooting Marahute's mate rather than simply capturing him. And we only find out that Cody's accusation that McLeach is a poacher is accurate when we see that he's illegally keeping several native wildlife species, with the intent of either selling them or butchering them for profit. It would make sense that a man hired to stop wildlife trafficking would be corrupted by the allure of profit that wildlife trafficking represents. It gives him motive, means and opportunity.
Angst? What Angst?: Despite the safety of Marahute's eggs being the catalyst for the climax, there is little grieving for them after being supposedly eaten. At no point during Bernard's rescue does he mention to the rest of the group that the eggs are secure under Wilbur's care.
Audience-Alienating Premise: Part of the reason this film bombed despite mixed to affectionate reviews and being a Cult Classic. America's audience's interest in the Australian setting of this film diminished by the time the film was released. Another problem was this film was released thirteen years after its predecessor premiered and didn't come to video till 1992, the year after the former was released to video.
Catharsis Factor: McLeach going over the waterfall at the end of the movie is extremely satisfying.
Common Knowledge: Despite what many reviews claim, Marahute is never posited in-story to be the Last of Her Kind; McLeach only says she's "rare".
Complete Monster: Percival C. McLeach, despite knowing the animals he hunts are sapient, delights himself in "ripping off their hides". While searching for the rare eagle Marahute, McLeach kidnaps the young Cody and forces his compliance by trapping him in an animal cage and recklessly tossing knives at him. Gloating to have previously captured and killed Marahute's mate, McLeach aims to destroy its eggs to increase the potential value. McLeach then entertains himself whilst disposing of Cody by lowering him into the crocodile-filled water, and when his fun is cut short, McLeach tries to shoot the rope suspending Cody.
Contested Sequel: Opinions are split on which of the two movies is superior. Those who prefer the first film like it for its charm, quiet pace, and its cute and moving characters, who likewise feel that Down Under's plot is thin-stretched and reliant on filler compared to the first film, not to mention Bianca and Bernard having much less screentime. Other fans prefer Down Under for having a different tone and atmosphere from the original film, being more exciting and adventure-driven.
McLeach: Home, home on the range! Where the critters are tied up in chains! I cut through their sides, and I tear off their hides, and the next day I do it again! EVERYBODY!
Cult Classic: While it was an underperformer upon its initial release, the film slowly but steadily gained new appreciation among Disney fans as a worthy sequel to a well-regarded Disney classic and a good film in its own right.
Joanna is another popular character due to being the source of a lot of the movie's laughs ("These are not Joanna eggs!!"), her very expressive animation (courtesy of none other than James Baxter), and her comedic personality providing a good contrast with the legitimately evil McLeach. Being fairly sympathetic despite her malicious personality, due to enduring a lot of abuse from McLeach, helps with her popularity a lot, too. She even makes a very prominent appearance in the Milestone Celebration short Once Upon a Studio (one of the most prominently featured characters from both Rescuers movies, in fact), suggesting that even people at Disney are aware of her enduring popularity on some level.
Evil Is Cool: McLeach was worse than Medusa as far as his actual actions go, but it was easier to dismiss him since, due to George C. Scott obviously having a ton of fun voicing him, he came off as being "cooler." Plus, he's got a big halftrack. That's badass no matter who you are.
Hype Backlash: The film gained one in later years as a response to many considering it an underrated classic better than the original film, with common criticisms including the below-mentioned padding, along with the comic relief such as Wilbur and the captured animals being annoying and the film having an overall weak plot compared to the other more popular Disney films at the time.
Iron Woobie: Cody and Marahute both go through a lot of crap in the film, but they come out of it stronger than ever.
Jerkass Woobie: Joanna the Goanna is a sinister lizard who's going along with McLeach's scheme, but it's clear that he's abusing her and treating her like crap.
Moral Event Horizon: McLeach goes from kidnapping Cody (the young boy who confronted his poaching) to tricking the authorities into thinking Cody is dead by throwing his backpack to the crocodiles to trying to coerce an eagle's whereabouts out of Cody by throwing sharp knives close to his head to locking Cody up in the same cages he uses for captured animals...but the most likely moment for Moral Event Horizon comes in the form of having Cody hanging from a rope tied to a crane, then lowering Cody into crocodile-infested waters and raised back out again, only to try and lower him in again, this time permanently. McLeach's intent was to "tie up" the last "loose end" by eliminating the only human witness to his preceding crimes in a way that would look like an accident — he even laughs about how the rangers will now find Cody's body at Croc Falls, exactly where they thought he was killed. But he just wanted to torture Cody first for the fun of it, apparently.
Padding: While beloved in its own right, the film also runs a scant 77 minutes, requiring a considerable amount of business and sub plots to get it up to feature length.
Bernard and Bianca are in less than half of the film and their arc is a very straightforward one. If it were titled An Australian Movie That The Rescuers Appear In Briefly, you might appreciate the padding more.
The entire scene where Cody is in the cages with the animals. It doesn't affect the story, none of the characters established in it are met again, and nothing is accomplished.
Wilbur's whole side-journey from his slapstick-funny back surgery, to needing to be the one that keeps the Eagle's eggs warm, also seems tacked on.
Realism-Induced Horror: McLeach is an Ax-CrazyEvil Poacher who has no qualms about hurting or killing innocent animals. Did we mention has a scope shotgun? Now, there's a guy who loves to see the faces of his victims before he riddles them full of holes. All of this wouldn't be too bad... if people like McLeach didn't exist in real life. The chances of someone getting attacked by an evil queen, a sorcerer, a sea witch or a pirate (in most parts of the world, at any rate) are slim-to-none. And no one has good publicity like Gaston or even Madame Medusa. But are there Ax-CrazyEvil Poachers out there who take delight in seeing their prey getting hurt and have no qualms about murdering endangered animals and anyone who tries to stop them? Oh, yes.
Sequel Displacement: Some fans of Down Under have never heard of the original film. It doesn't help that almost every time Walt Disney Home Video put out the Rescuers movies on a new format in North America, Down Under beat its predecessor by at least a year; Disney+ also launched in the Netherlands with Down Under, but not The Rescuers.note In the United States and Canada, Down Under made its VHS/LaserDisc debut in 1991, and The Rescuers made its VHS/LaserDisc debut in 1992. Down Under came to DVD in 2000, as part of the Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection, and The Rescuers in 2003, without any special banner. When the time came for Disney to release the movies on Blu-ray, they finally bucked this trend, by putting both of them out in 2012 — on the same 2-Movie Collection Blu-ray Disc. In Europe, however, Rescuers made its video debut in 1991, followed by Down Under the following year; the only explanation for this is because Disney delayed Down Under's release in the Eastern Hemisphere by nearly a year.
While most of the film still looks great, the CGI shots have aged horribly, most egregiously the shot with the Sydney Opera House, a low res untextured model that has noticeable clipping in it.
The CGI shots of New York City haven't fared much better. Especially notable is when Wilbur divebombs into the city streets, as the cars smashing into each other to avoid him are clearly blocky, untextured models. That shot would've easily looked far worse if it weren't a nighttime scene.
Values Dissonance: The gag where the female mouse hits her date (who is much smaller than her) under the belief that he was trying to play footsie with her would never be allowed in a Disney movie today.
. But then what else would you expect from master animator Glen Keane?