Home On The Range wasn't a terrible movie, it does have its good moments. However, it just isn't a great one either. It does try hard, but is overall unexceptional. I am not criticising it just for the sake of it, this review is coming from someone who did see the movie, noticed some good bits, and not so impressive bits.

The animation does have its good points, the opening in particular is absolutely stunning, with lovely pastel colours. But there are other parts where it is merely okay, where there are some dull backgrounds and some awkward character animation, Rico especially. I am probably the only person who thinks this, and that is fine, but Alan Menken's music was a disappointment. It isn't as beautiful as Beauty and the Beast, as catchy as Little Mermaid, as dazzling as Aladdin, as lyrical as Pocahontas or as powerful as Hunchback of Notre Dame. Instead at best, it is forgettable, and I do think it is Menken's poorest effort. Out the songs, all of which are pleasant but unmemorable, the only one that stood out for me was Slim's Yodel Song, and the main reason for that was the embeddement of classical music favourites like William Tell(Rossini) and Ode To Joy(Beethoven).

The movie does start off very well indeed, and I did like the idea of the plot. Sadly, the plot came across as rather thin, there are a number of scenes where very little happens, though the scene in Echo Mine was fun. Overall, the film's main problem is too much dialogue not enough action. speaking of the dialogue, there are one or two bits with Slim mostly where you raise a laugh, but in general, despite Roseanne Barr's evidently enthusiastic voice over, Home On the Range is rather devoid of humour.

The characters are a mixed bag. Slim as a villain isn't bad at all(one of the better characters),he is humorous at times, and there are occasional moments of inspired dialogue, my favourite being about his yodelling. His identical henchmen are unimpressive, and perhaps even unnecessary. Rico is underused, the cows are fine but Buck was a tad annoying at times, not always though. One of the better aspects of the movie was the voice cast, with Randy Quaid evidently relishing his role as Slim, and Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench are very good, despite their meagre material. Cuba Gooding Jnr is okay, he has been better, but Jennifer Tilly and Steve Bushemi are given little to do.

Overall, Home On the Range is okay as an animated film. It does have its good moments, but my general impression is that it is one of the least remarkable Disney films. 5/10 Bethany Cox

"Home on the Range" is a very odd movie and I wonder what Disney was thinking when they made it. It's not so much because it's a bad film...but it certainly is among their worst full-length animated films. In fact, it looks so cheap and seems so slight that it has a definite made for video look to it. And, like most made for video offerings from Disney, it seems made more for kids than for the entire family---though there are a few very crude moments that defy explanation. Parents most likely would be bored by it...but it's not 100% terrible....at least it's not "Oliver & Company", a film I consider the absolute worst Disney full-length animated picture.

When the film begins, you are bound to be startled by the animation. the colors are intense and the art style very unusual. My daughter said that it made her feel as if her eyes would start bleeding! I didn't hate it as much as she did, but it certainly looked poor compared to most animated films from the studio.

The story finds a cow (Roseanne) being passed from one owner to the next. However, her new home is being threatened by an evil boss-man who is buying up all the ranches in the territory. So, it's up to the cows to try to earn money to save the farm.

Occasionally, the film is quite clever (such as the vulture scene) but mostly it seems like time-filler and not much more. I am sure in retrospect that the studio wishes they'd picked better voice actors who were less controversial (read Wikipedia about Roseanne and Randy Quaid for more information on this) as well as spent more time on the writing and plot. Not surprisingly, critics savaged the film and it was a rare box office dud for Disney. Folks might think it was evidence that folks didn't like traditionally animated films but the truth is that the story says mediocrity (or worse) in almost every way.

I really took a chance when I bought the DVD of "Home On The Range" because I had not seen it. It is not my normal practice to buy something that I am totally unfamiliar with. However, I was happily surprised. This movie was wonderful! My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Roseanne provided a funny voice to one of the cows. Love her or hate her, the casting was perfect, like Ellen DeGeneres was for "Finding Nemo".

I read here on IMDb that "Home On The Range" is the last Disney film to be done with traditional animation. Maybe there are faster or cheaper ways of making these movies, but a great history is coming to an end. Kind of sad… I recommend this movie. While it may not be a masterpiece, it is a delight that is better than most Don Bluth or Dreamworks films.

I would give it *** out of four. Fun and funny stuff!