When it comes to Disney sequels, most are usually OK or just plain bad, The Rescuers Down Under is not only the first Disney sequel but the best Disney sequel to this day. It surpassed the first film by far and I have loved it since I was a little girl. When I bought it on DVD as a grown up, I was thinking that I wouldn't have the same feelings since you're a kid, everything seems amazing. But still rewatching it, this is an incredible movie. The first Rescuers is such a sappy movie, it's a good one, but it's just a tear jerker from beginning to end. This film was epic, the animation is beyond incredible and the story was way too excellent.

In the Australian Outback, a young boy named Cody rescues and befriends a rare golden eagle called Marahute, who shows him her nest and eggs. Later, the boy is captured in an animal trap set by Percival C. McLeach, a local wanted poacher. When McLeach finds one of the eagle's feathers in the boy's backpack he is instantly overcome with excitement, he knew that capturing the bird would make him rich. McLeach kidnaps the boy and attempts to force out of him the whereabouts of the rare eagle, even going as far as offering to split the profit with him. But the Rescuers hear of Cody's troubles from a mouse had saved earlier in the film and they go to save him and the magnificent eagle.

I don't even know where to begin on the excellence of this film. First off the animation, there's this shot of the outback that just ranges to what seems like forever and the music that plays during that scene makes you feel like you're really there. The scenes where Cody is flying with the bird is just epic and beautiful. The characters are wonderful, you could feel the power of the bird and you just want nothing but evil karma to come down upon the villain for trying to capture something so majestic and incredible. Cody is a very likable hero who has respect for all living creatures. And of course our famous rescuers are back and they are better than ever in helping Cody save the eagle. If you're ever going to see a Disney sequel, I would always recommend The Rescuers Down Under. It's a great movie in general, I would say it stands well on it's own. It's a terrific underrated gem that needs more recognition.

10/10

Steve Irwin's tragic death two days ago brings to mind Australia, including movies set there, including this one. When I first saw "The Rescuers Down Under", I interpreted it as nice entertainment. I guess that when you're six years old, it is just that. But a previous reviewer noted some plot holes, namely the lack of Aussie accents. Then again, since when do Disney features shoot for realism? I mean, "Cinderella" portrayed an abused woman who always looked like Grace Kelly.

Anyway, I take a new look at this movie when I see who did the voices (I can assure you that I didn't recognize any of these names when I was six): Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, John Candy, George C. Scott, Frank Welker, Bernard Fox and Peter Firth. To rephrase that: Robert Hartley, Lisa Douglas, the "Second City" guy who became one of the famous comics of the '80s and '90s, Gen. Turgidson, miscellaneous, Dr. Bombay and another miscellaneous. Whoa...

So, it's OK if we just accept it as cute entertainment for children. But don't expect a religious experience.

P.S.: Happy birthday, Mr. Newhart! You were great in "Catch-22", "Cold Turkey" and "In & Out"! P.P.S.: Why do I mention Steve Irwin, "Dr. Strangelove", "Bewitched", "Catch-22", "Cold Turkey" and "In & Out" in a review of a Disney movie? I guess that I'm just plain weird!

Entertaining sequel to "The Rescuers" sees Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor back to voice the characters of Bernard and Bianca mouse of the rescue service, which operates out of the UN to help children in need, and in this tale a young boy living in Australia has been abducted by an evil poacher called Mr. McLeach(voiced by George C. Scott) who wants the boy to lead him to a large and rare eagle that he wants to kill, but the boy refuses. It is up to Bernard and Bianca to save the day again... Though not as charming and moving as the first, this still is a respectable effort, with a worthwhile message and an ambitious visual approach. Shame there wasn't a third adventure...