The Overly Comical Sidekicks

[nomad2010]

So this has really been coming to my mind lately. I've watched a lot of the more recent Disney movies and realized just how annoying these sidekicks, animal companions and so on are. There comedy dates them and it is way too slapstick. Honestly why couldn't we get a comical in character but not wise-crackin joker sidekick/companion. It wasn't so bad in Pocahontas, but that is more historical so you couldn't add modern references. But still Hercules, Hunchback (the gargoyles ruined it for me), Mushu in Mulan.. I mean why does Disney think we NEED this? It's not necessary... I mean Sebastian in TLM was perfect along with Cogsworth & Lumierre. Abu too, he didn't say anything but still... Anyone else agree that they really date the films and that it only takes away?

[Super Aurora]

Timon and Pumbaa started it all.

[ajmrowland]

Actually, Timon and Pumbaa had much more purpose than having stuff written in for them. Simba needed something to keep him from actually caring.

[Elladorine]

The main reason they put them in is to keep the "squirm factor" down for the kids.

[CampbellzSoup]

Pain and Panic made me CRINGE in Hercules, but I can look past them...everything else is not so bad to be honest...and it's one of my favorite movies!

Mushu isn't that bad nor are Timon and Pumba.

I think they give the film heart, and lighten up the mood...they make Disney films...Disney!

[Marky_198]

Sebastian in The Little Mermaid is so good because the character actually adds something to the film and has some depth.
Think of the scene where he decides to change his way of thinking and to help Ariel when she's on land. Although he's funny, you feel for the character.

The gargoyles in Hunchback just ruin every beautiful moment with some slapstick crap. Really, they're just there to ruin beautiful moments, it's the only thing they do.

Also in brother bear, Hercules and Mulan etc, is this really annoying.

I guess the newer generation of filmmakers just don't get it and think slapstick is the only way to go. Look at all the 3d films.........

[a-net-fan]

I agree with your comment completely. Sure some slapstick sidekicks are worse then others. The Gargoyls in the Hunchback of Notre Dame could have been perfect sidekicks if they were done more along the lines of Sebastian and Cogsworth. Skuttle (sp) in The Little Mermaid managed to be very slapstick but yet nothing he said seemed out of place or inappropriate at all. Unfortunately, for the Hunchback of Notre Dame the Gargoyls provided a number of cringeworthy moments such as the Guy Like You musical number and comments like "pour the wine and cut the cheese" (while at the same time making farting noises with his armpit). Fortunately things like this didnt prevent me from loving this movie ..... but it certainly is a big flaw in the film. There is no excuse for out of place humor and I think that is the crime here. Slapstick can be funny but I think its important to keep the characters believable by not having them say things that would never be said in the era the film is representing. Mushu isnt quite as bad but again.....the way he talks and has mannerisms are just not consistant with the time the movie is set. The "cool factor" they were trying to go for with him doesnt work for me. Just think what a great character he could have been if they had tamed down on all of that and went more along the lines of a Sebastian or he could have even been to Mulan what JC was to Pinnochio. Tarzans Terk (voiced by Rosie ODonell) is another character that at times bugs and ranks among the worst for me as well.

SO case and point sidekicks can be a great addition to a movie if they are believeable and arent over the top.

[yukitora]

omg I love mushu, I think they hit it just right with creating his character. I think he is one of the more fully fleshed out characters of the sidekicks, as moves on from caring for himself to deeply caring for Mulan. His character practically goes through the same journey as Mulan (being tormented for his situations) and yet he adds of lot of comedy whilst still being relevant to the story. Mulan is a brilliant film and in my opinion, somewhat underrated. It has the visual grande of the walt era films (reminds me very much of Bambi), and the engaging storylines of the "renaissance" films.

[Disney's Divinity]

I agree with Yukitora on Mushu. To me, he's treated along the same lines as most of B&tB, TLM, Aladdin sidekicks, with a character arc/storyline of his own

I think I find the biggest offender to be Terk and Tantor in Tarzan, though I find both to be fairly funny. They just add absolutely nothing to the film. They're rarely even in the same scene as Tarzan! And why is an elephant camping out with a bunch of gorillas?

I also believe that Genie is the first intrusive sidekick they had. It's not that I don't like Genie, and it's not as if he wasn't necessary for the story, but he practically takes over the whole film. The movie had a pretty serious tone until he was introduced.

Timon and Pumbaa actually don't annoy me as much as they used to. Timon's voice actor gets on my nerves, but I think most people dislike these characters for Pumbaa's "problem" (though it's never displayed in the actual move--"Pumbaa, not in front of the kids!"). But I see the characters' role as necessary for the film, actually. Just because they portray the "care-free, no responsibility" lifestyle that Simba's supposed to be distracted by.

The gargoyles don't bother me much either. I used to dislike them on principle, but ever since I heard the idea that they're supposed to represent Quasi's psyche I've enjoyed them more. "A Guy Like You" is out-of-place in Hunchback though.

BEN (from Treasure Planet) is the most annoying one they've had, I find. Mostly because of the voice actor. Ugh.

[ajmrowland]

I don't find many sidekicks to be cringe-worthy. I mean, Quasimodo needed some imaginary friends because anyone'd go crazy from being cut off from society. and a similar thing with Timon and Pumbaa; they gave Simba the whole Hakuna Matatta thing, making his character development a little more of an arch. Surely, all Disney movies have comedy in them, the only problem was to take it a bit too far. Iago, IMO, was hilarious, and Pain and Panic at least brought Hercules to earth and turned him mortal. even though they could've had another character do it, it helped the story along. Same with Mushu, Iago, Sebastian. None of these will be perfect. You can't please everybody, but you can try and keep with the tradition of the studio. I mean, just imagine what Ray the Firefly will do that will piss some people off. Even the southern accent does/will annoy some people. I don't mind it, I don't mind any of these characters, but somebody somewhere will, no matter what the filmmakers do, there will always be a character that annoys someone.

[yukitora]

If only everyone was as open-minded as you!

[ajmrowland]

If only everyone was as open-minded as you!

I know! It's a curse!

[toonaspie]

omg I love mushu, I think they hit it just right with creating his character. I think he is one of the more fully fleshed out characters of the sidekicks, as moves on from caring for himself to deeply caring for Mulan. His character practically goes through the same journey as Mulan (being tormented for his situations) and yet he adds of lot of comedy whilst still being relevant to the story. Mulan is a brilliant film and in my opinion, somewhat underrated. It has the visual grande of the walt era films (reminds me very much of Bambi), and the engaging storylines of the "renaissance" films.

That's kinda how I saw them (Mushu and Crickee) too. I was really impressed that these sidekicks were able to be incorporated into the story and be given their own fair share of character development. I say very few sidekicks will ever be on the same level as the Genie...who was pretty much the most important part of Aladdin.

I think the saddest/worst use of sidekicks I have seen were Rutt and Tuke in Brother Bear. They had absolutely NO BEARING (pardon the pun) in the actual story taking place and were only onscreen to make puns and banter. In fact none of the minor characters seemed all that needed. Kenai and Koda were basically the only characters in the entire film. Period.

[ajmrowland]

Them and the witch doctor.

[a-net-fan]

Well with Mushu id like to clarify that he isnt annoying all the way thru the movie. Just at certain parts....mostly at the beginning.

[Goliath]

It depends on the film you're talkng about. Like, when you take Hercules, it makes little sense to say the comedy provided by the sidekicks date the film, since the film as a whole was intended to be a satire of 1990's society. It's not in any way trying to be historically accurate. And you metion Abu was fitting for Aladdin, yet I think this film will date the fastest because of the Genie's very specific references to actual people who were well known when the film was made. But will people watching the film in 10 years stil get them all? (Still love the film, by the way!)

I'm surprised people complain a lot about the sidekicks being too much 'out of place' in the 1990's films. I mean, Jiminy Cricket was out of place in 18th century Italy, too! He was such an 20th century all-American character, yet nobody complains about him. He does fit the movie, though. Unlike the gargoyles, who don't really fit Hunchback of Notre Dame. Bt that has not so much to do with dating or accuracy, but with the tone of the film. 'A Guy Like You' is a great song on its own, but it doesn't fit.

Then people say, in Walt's days, characters weren't developed just for the sake of being funny sidekicks, like they did in the 1990's. The comedy just happened to flow from the characters. To a certain extent that is certainly true. Films (and not just Disney's) are much more formulaic nowadays. But remember it happened in Walt's days, too. Remember Archimedes in The Sword in the Stone; the Colonel and Sergeant Tibbs in One Hundred and One Dalmatians; Mister Smee in Peter Pan; maybe even the crows in Dumbo.

I also believe that Genie is the first intrusive sidekick they had. It's not that I don't like Genie, and it's not as if he wasn't necessary for the story, but he practically takes over the whole film. The movie had a pretty serious tone until he was introduced.

I wouldn't say the movie had a serious tone before Genie arrived. It's not for nothing that they had Robin Williams playing the storyteller at the beginning of the film. "The famous Dead Sea Tupperware"? Gilbert Gottfried as Iago? 'One jump ahead'? I wouldn't call that serious.

[witchkitten]

I also believe that Genie is the first intrusive sidekick they had. It's not that I don't like Genie, and it's not as if he wasn't necessary for the story, but he practically takes over the whole film.

I agree. While I still love Aladdin and consider it to be a great Disney film, I think the Genie was the beginning of Disney's over-the-top humor. I felt that the humor in Aladdin was beginning to overshadow the story line. It was even worse in The Lion King (still a great film) and it just got worse after that. Although I still like Mulan a lot (the only Disney full length animate film after The Lion King that I did like), I really didn't like Mushu. He was way too over-the-top and Eddie Murphy's voice bothered me. Disney forgot that the story line should come first with humor added in to enhance the story and keep it form being too serious. Instead, they let the humor become the purpose of the film.

[Pasta67]

BEN (from Treasure Planet) is the most annoying one they've had, I find. Mostly because of the voice actor. Ugh.

Oh, so agreed.

I mean, I would have accepted it if he had stopped being annoying when he got his memory back, since that's the part where he's supposed to become competent, but no, he stays the exact same way. And you're right, Martin Short doesn't help matters either. BEN's the only flaw in Treasure Planet to me.

[Flanger-Hanger]

BEN (from Treasure Planet) is the most annoying one they've had, I find. Mostly because of the voice actor. Ugh.

Good thing he doesn't show up until some 55 minutes into the film.

[DisneyJedi]

Surprised no one's made mention of Gurgi yet. I mean, I did hear someone say he was like a furry Jar Jar Binks. XD