Voices of Dee Bradley Baker, Jason Alexander, Mary Steenburgen, and Reece Witherspoon
Directed by Richard Rich and Terry L. Noss
Music and Lyrics by various
Richard Rich still had swans on the brain in the early 2000's. The Swan Princess wasn't a hit in the theaters, but it went over far better on home video. It was such a success, he's directed nine direct-to-home-media sequels to date. The 1973 Charlotte's Web was also a surprise hit on video in the 90's and a live action Stuart Little was a smash in 1999, which prompted studios to look at adapting other E.B White stories. How does this version of how a mute trumpeter swan gains a voice and a mate look in animation? Let's begin on the pond, as Father (Alexander) and Mother (Steenburgen) Trumpeter Swan are about to hatch their children, and find out...
The Story: The youngest member of their brood, Louis (Baker), is born without a voice. His father is horrified. How will he be able to communicate or attract a mate? Louis turns to his human friend Sam Beaver (Sam Gilfaldi), whom he met when he went to summer camp by his lake. Louis wants to tell the pretty swan Serena (Witherspoon) how much he loves her, but she can't understand his wing signals. Sam takes him to his class, where he learns to read and write.
That allows him to communicate with humans, but swans can't read. Worse yet, he learns his father stole a trumpet from a store so he could communicate through music. Determined to make money for his father to pay the angry store owner back, he flies off first to Boston, then to Philadelphia. He becomes a success...but he never forgets his Serena, or his father. He's got to get back to the lake in Montana, before Serena marries the boorish male swan Boyd (Seth Green).
The Animation: The detailed backgrounds are where it's at. There's a lot to look at, both in the stunning wilds of Montana and in the more colorful cities where Louie earns his money. The characters are a more obvious reflection of the low budget. The swans look alike, with only the feathers on their heads or cheeks setting them apart from one another. There's continuity problems, too. The trumpet in particular keeps changing color, from silver to gold and back again.
The Song and Dance: I'm surprised they got such an A-list cast for a relatively small film. Carol Burnett also has a small but fairly funny part as Sam's teacher who decides Louie will be their class science project - this was her first animated film. There's also Corey Burton as a squirrel who behaves like a politician and is one of two squirrels who help save Louie from his sleazy manager Monty (Joe Mantegna).
Favorite Number: We open with Father Swan singing about how he thinks his children will be the "Spittin' Image" of him. Mother Swan just wishes he'd quit playing with their eggs! "Louie, Louie, Louie" is performed by Little Richard and the chorus in the background in Boston when Louie's music takes the town by storm and is later heard over the credits. "Hey, Hey" is the number for the girl swans with Serena, including Louie's sisters Billie (Melissa Disney) and Ella (Elizabeth Daily). "Touch the Sky" is another background number, this one performed by Kenya Hathaway as Serena and Louie glide together among the clouds in the finale.
What I Don't Like: First and foremost, this doesn't have much to do with the book it's based on. Sam was the one who realized Louie was mute. Like Fern in Charlotte's Web, he spent far more time with the swans and other animals at the pond than what's shown here. Sam's role is basically cut down to taking Louie to class. This is likely to play up the romance between Louie and Serena, but I'd rather see Serena ending up with him in the Philadelphia Zoo and getting out with Sam's help than the cliched romantic triangle. Boyd wasn't even in the book originally. Alexander waaaaay overdoes it as Louie's drama queen of a father, to the point where he gets really annoying.
The Big Finale: The cast keeps this from being flat-out terrible, but it's nothing special, either, and will be especially disappointing for fans of the book. Only for major fans of the cast or someone looking for rainy-day background noise for young elementary schoolers.
Home Media: Easy to find on DVD and streaming. The DVD often turns up for under $5; it's currently streaming for free at several sites.
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