Line #35 YMMV/TheRescuersDownUnder


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3	!!The film contain examples of:
4	* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: 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 WantedPoster 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 CompleteMonster 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 [[LawmanGoneBad would be corrupted by the allure of profit that wildlife trafficking represents.]] It gives him motive, means and opportunity.
5	* AngstWhatAngst: 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.
6	* AudienceAlienatingPremise: Part of the reason this film bombed despite mixed to affectionate reviews and being a CultClassic. 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.
7	* SugarWiki/AwesomeArt: The ''entire'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-coYU-INP3E flight scene]]. But then what else would you expect from master animator Creator/GlenKeane?
8	* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:
9	** While the film lacks songs, we get a rousing adventure score from Bruce Broughton, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLNf63E-pHJlDcl0FUWZfOoN9j1qMHhJf7&time_continue=21&v=jK2ZxEK1CEk&feature=emb_logo Cody's Flight]]".
10	** This film also boasts [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGJkrmwWkIY one of the greatest opening titles tracks]] in cinematic history.
11	** The score for the GondorCallsForAid scene, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhBDuir8ZdY&ab_channel=BruceBroughton-Topic Message Montage]]," makes it one of the most epic of the movie.
12	* CatharsisFactor: [=McLeach=] going over the waterfall at the end of the movie is extremely satisfying.
13	* CommonKnowledge: Despite what many reviews claim, Marahute is never posited in-story to be the LastOfHerKind; [=McLeach=] only says she's "rare".
14	* CompleteMonster: [[FauxAffablyEvil Percival C. McLeach]], despite knowing the animals he hunts are sapient, delights himself in "[[EvilPoacher 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 [[PsychoKnifeNut 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 [[WouldHurtAChild disposing of Cody]] by [[FedToTheBeast lowering him into the crocodile-filled water]], and when his fun is cut short, [=McLeach=] tries to shoot the rope suspending Cody.
15	* ContestedSequel: 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.
16	* CrossesTheLineTwice: [=McLeach=] is a rival to ComicBook/TheJoker in this despite being the villain of a Disney sequel.
17	-->'''[=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!
18	* CultClassic: 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.
19	* EnsembleDarkHorse:
20	** Frank the frilled lizard. He's quite a RidiculouslyCuteCritter for such a scaly reptile, and his [[CloudCuckoolander endearingly silly personality]] and a pointed aversion of ReptilesAreAbhorrent in a movie that otherwise has a ''lot'' of mean reptiles makes him one of the movie's more memorable characters (in spite of being a OneSceneWonder).
21	** 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 [[LaughablyEvil comedic personality]] providing a good contrast with the legitimately evil [=McLeach=]. Being [[JerkassWoobie fairly sympathetic despite her malicious personality]], due to enduring a lot of abuse from [[BadBoss McLeach]], helps with her popularity a lot, too. She even makes a very prominent appearance in the MilestoneCelebration short ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAStudio'' (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.
22	* EvilIsCool: [=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." [[RuleOfCool Plus, he's got a big halftrack.]] That's badass no matter who you are.
23	* HarsherInHindsight: After Wilbur leaves the hospital and flies off to find Bernard and Bianca, he mutters "I gotta go on a diet when I get home." Creator/JohnCandy died of a heart attack in 1994 due to his obesity, and this was [[Film/WagonsEast while he was shooting for another film]], no less.
24	* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Cody bears a strong resemblance to Steve Irwin's son, [[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4568430/Irwins-son-follows-dads-footsteps.html Robert]].
25	* HilariousInHindsight: A pair of birds named after the Wright brothers who run an airline? [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewHorizons Fast forward to 2020…]]
26	* HypeBacklash: 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.
27	* IronWoobie: Cody and Marahute both go through a lot of crap in the film, but they come out of it stronger than ever.
28	* JerkassWoobie: 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.
29	* LoveToHate: [=McLeach=]. What else can be said about someone voiced by Creator/GeorgeCScott?
30	* MemeticMutation: "These are '''NOT''' Joanna eggs!"
31	* MoralEventHorizon: [=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 MoralEventHorizon 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 [[ColdBloodedTorture just wanted to torture Cody first for the fun of it, apparently]].
32	* {{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.
33	** 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.
34	** 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.
35	** 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.
36	* RealismInducedHorror: [=McLeach=] is an AxCrazy EvilPoacher 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 [[WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs an evil queen]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} a sorcerer]], [[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989 a sea witch]] or [[WesternAnimation/PeterPan a pirate]] (in [[RuthlessModernPirates most parts of the world]], at any rate) are slim-to-none. And no one has good publicity like [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]] or even [[WesternAnimation/TheRescuers Madame Medusa]]. But are there AxCrazy {{Evil Poacher}}s 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''.
37	* SequelDisplacement: Some fans of ''Down Under'' have never heard of the original film. It doesn't help that almost every time Creator/WaltDisneyHomeVideo put out the ''Rescuers'' movies on a new format in North America, ''Down Under'' beat its predecessor by at least a year; Creator/DisneyPlus 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.[[/note]]
38	* SpecialEffectsFailure:
39	** While [[SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome 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.
40	** 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.
41	* ValuesDissonance: 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.
42	* TheWoobie: Poor Bernard falls under this due to all the hell he suffers while trying to propose to Bianca. [[spoiler: [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments He succeeds in the end, luckily.]]]]
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Context YMMV / TheRescuersDownUnder