I’ve talked about the great animated Disney films and the great non-animated Disney films. That list wouldn’t complete if I didn’t discuss some of the great stinkers presented by Disney over the years. While there are several out there, I’ve narrowed this list down to the 5 worst offenders. If you haven’t seen them, count yourself lucky.
The Haunted Mansion
The success of Pirates of the Caribbean notwithstanding, making a movie that is simply based on the premise of an attraction in the parks is not a safe bet. The movie was a success commercially, but the plot was flimsy, the fantastic cast was underused and it relied too heavily on gag humor.
Home on the Range
This is one of those movies that disappoints on a variety of levels. First and foremost, this movie was advertised as Disney’s ‘last classically’ made animated film. It would be the last to use traditional pen and ink animation. It also featured the voices of Judi Dench and Cuba Gooding Jr. These elements alone should have promised a fantastic film; instead it’s a boring film with a boring beginning, middle and end.
The Country Bears
This is another unfortunate case of rushing to turn a great attraction into a mediocre (at best) film. It features Haley Joel Osment and Christopher Walker, but the plot plods, the music’s forced and even the scenes that should have you cheering leave you just a little on the blah side. You know it’s bad when kids are turned off by it.
Inspector Gadget
The cartoon was mildly entertaining, but the film is just flat out insulting. Considering it stars Matthew Broderick, Rupert Everett and Michelle Trachtenberg, this is one credit they might not want to advertise. Instead of emphasizing relationships, character growth and the crazy adventures of the cartoon, the film used sight gags over and over and over again. There’s only so much a visual effect can sell and this movie was definitely not it.
Disney Sequels
We’ve talked about the weakness of the straight-to-DVD sequels that diluted the power of the Disney brand, so they get their own personal slot here in the worst Disney movies ever made from Aladdin 3 to Pocahontas 2 to The Santa Clause 3 (sorry folks, it really just doesn’t live up to the first two) and don’t get me started on the mess that happened with the Pirates of the Caribbean. Movies that are great ideas show up on the big screen, they go straight-to-DVD when they figure people aren’t going to pay good money to see it. Wouldn’t that be a first clue?