An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (G)
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Caution: spoilers.

This is a sequel to An American Tail. The sequel itself produced a spin-off TV series, Fievel's American Tails. I should mention that Don Bluth, who had directed and co-produced the first movie, was not involved in this one. However, Steven Spielberg did have a hand in both films. I also want to say that for the most part, Fievel's voice sounded kind of different to me than it did in the first movie, but it could be because of the actor being like five years older in this one, and still trying to sound the same age. Fievel's sister, Tanya, actually had a different voice actress in this movie, though their parents had the same VAs. And of course, Dom DeLuise was still voicing Tiger the cat. And there were some other good actors voicing new characters, this time. Anyway, I'm pretty sure I never actually saw this movie until watching it on DVD in 2012, but I do recall enjoying the TV series, back in the 1992. I'm afraid I didn't like this movie as much as I'd hoped, but it was okay. The series was probably better, and I'd definitely like to see it again someday.

Anyway, at the start of the movie, Fievel is enjoying a daydream based on the story of a famous Wild West lawman, a dog named Wylie Burp (Jimmy Stewart). Meanwhile, Tanya is dreaming of becoming a famous singer. And their parents have become disillusioned about life in America, which isn't as great as they thought it was going to be. Also, Tiger has a girlfriend named Miss Kitty, who leaves New York, looking for a more exciting life out West. And then... there's this cat named Cat R. Waul (John Cleese), the leader of a group of cats who trick the mice into moving to a Western town called Green River, saying that out there, cats, mice, and dogs are all friendly with each other. So, a bunch of mice (including the Mousekewitzes) decide to take the train out there. Though Tiger doesn't find out about this til later, so there's a whole subplot about his misadventures, trying to follow his friend Fievel, but mostly just getting chased by dogs... though things do eventually turn around for him.

While on the train ride, Fievel discovers that Cat R. Waul, and his henchman, a spider named Chula (Jon Lovitz), and the other cats, actually planned to use the mice as laborers before finally turning them into "mouse burgers." But Cat R. Waul gets Chula to toss Fievel off the train. So, just like in the first movie, he's separated from his family. But it doesn't take nearly as long for him to find them again as it did before. Still, they don't believe his warning, which is hardly surprising, because it was mixed up with some other stuff that... sounded like heat-induced delusions. Even though those things were true, too. But really... one can't blame anyone for thinking it sounded crazy. Anyway... once again, Fievel overhears Cat R. Waul's plans, when there's just one day left before he intends to kill the mice, as they're about to complete construction on his saloon. Meanwhile, Cat R. Waul hears Tanya singing, and is so enraptured that he makes her the star of his saloon (with the help of Miss Kitty, who's working for him, now). Fievel knows no one will believe him about Cat R. Waul's plan, and that's when he meets the real Wylie Burp... a sheriff who's way past his prime. He does nothing but sleep all the time, but Fievel inspires him to try to train a new dog to become a hero. And that dog is... Tiger.

Well... the movie is not nearly as good as the original, but... it had its moments. Some parts were pretty funny, though I thought most of the humor was kinda lame. And there were things that didn't make sense, like how Fievel turned his hat from the first movie into a cowboy hat. That didn't make any sense! But I did like how he turned it back, at the end. That was a nice little bit of symbolism, right there, though it could perhaps be easily overlooked, as such. It also didn't make sense that a spider was able to threaten not just mice, but cats. Anyway, I kinda thought Tanya was the best part of the movie, but there wasn't enough of her in it. And I guess I can't think of anything else to say.