Lady and the Tramp
Director: Charlie Bean
Cast: Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux, Kiersey Clemons, Yvette Nicole Brown, Thomas Mann
In this heartwarming and timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic, Lady and the Tramp, Lady, a beautiful and pampered Cocker Spaniel and Tramp, a tough but chivalrous stray, embark on an unexpected adventure and, despite their differences, they form a special bond and come to understand the value of home.
Loyalty plays a powerful role in this film and nowhere is it better illustrated than in the characters of Lady and the Tramp, themselves.
One of the most controversial perspectives to illustrate loyalty involves the arrival of the new baby in Lady’s family. Initially, Lady is puzzled because her once devoted owners, Jim Dear and Darling, have become less affectionate toward her. This moment coincides with Lady’s first encounter with the Tramp. The Tramp tells Lady that once the baby is born, Lady’s owners will love the baby instead of Lady, and she will cease to be the center of their universe. Instead, she will be cast aside and forgotten.
However, unlike in the original film where the Tramp prediction is proven false and Lady immediately bonds with her new baby, in this film, when baby Lulu arrives, Lady is scolded and cast out of the family circle. When Jim Dear and Darling leave, instead of leaving both Lady and the baby with Aunt Sarah and reassuring Lady that they would return soon, they just leave her there alone with Aunt Sarah, and take their daughter with them on their trip, without reassuring Lady at all. Lady even worries if they are coming back for her at all, or if they are abandoning her. Lady’s disgrace is complete when Aunt Sarah blames her cat’s mischief on Lady and strips Lady of her pretty collar – the very thing that symbolizes Lady belonging to the family – and forces her to wear a muzzle instead. Terrified by this cruel treatment, Lady flees from her Aunt Sarah, only to run straight into the cocky and chivalrous Tramp. After teasing Lady a bit about his prediction proving true, the Tramp shows Lady what a free dog’s life is like. They enjoy a boat ride down the river, have a romantic, candlelit dinner and he shows Lady his special hill with a stunning view of the town and teaches her to howl at the moon.
He also tells her his secret…that he once had a family like hers that he felt loyal to. He was loved by his people too…until one day, he was abandoned by them because they also had a new baby. So, when he asks her to stay with him in this beautiful, free new world, unlike in the original film, there seems to be little reason for Lady to return to her once loving family. There is no baby at home for Lady to protect. While she tells the Tramp that the love that she shares with her family is special and she belongs with them, the Tramp gently reminds Lady that her family abandoned her. And even after she returns home, while it looks like she is happy to be with Jim Dear and Darling again, and her family allows Lady to bond with the baby, I think her heart was still yearning to be on that hill with the Tramp. This is illustrated by Lady howling at the moon one night and later confessing to the Tramp that she missed him and that he has value to her. In the end, the Tramp’s heroism (protecting the baby from being attacked by the villainous rat) is what allows Lady’s family to show this chivalrous street dog what having a real family feels like.
While it does not quite hit them same emotionally nostalgic tones that its animated counterpart does, Disney’s live-action film, Lady and the Tramp, does have some good qualities. The dogs they cast for the titular characters are spot on. Lady looks the part of the beautiful and pampered princess, and the Tramp is definitely the scruffy, streetwise mutt with a heart of gold. I enjoyed the addition of the Tramp’s backstory. It added a deeper emotional layer to his character that allowed him to truly bond with Lady and understand her pain. While the CGI animation on the dogs is a bit clumsy and, at times, a bit creepy, the stunning and beautiful New Orleans backdrop more than makes up for this. It feels like the charming and elegant town from the original film. While not the best of the Disney remakes, this is a movie I would highly recommend.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Charlie Bean
Cast: Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux, Kiersey Clemons, Yvette Nicole Brown, Thomas Mann
In this heartwarming and timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic, Lady and the Tramp, Lady, a beautiful and pampered Cocker Spaniel and Tramp, a tough but chivalrous stray, embark on an unexpected adventure and, despite their differences, they form a special bond and come to understand the value of home.
Loyalty plays a powerful role in this film and nowhere is it better illustrated than in the characters of Lady and the Tramp, themselves.
One of the most controversial perspectives to illustrate loyalty involves the arrival of the new baby in Lady’s family. Initially, Lady is puzzled because her once devoted owners, Jim Dear and Darling, have become less affectionate toward her. This moment coincides with Lady’s first encounter with the Tramp. The Tramp tells Lady that once the baby is born, Lady’s owners will love the baby instead of Lady, and she will cease to be the center of their universe. Instead, she will be cast aside and forgotten.
However, unlike in the original film where the Tramp prediction is proven false and Lady immediately bonds with her new baby, in this film, when baby Lulu arrives, Lady is scolded and cast out of the family circle. When Jim Dear and Darling leave, instead of leaving both Lady and the baby with Aunt Sarah and reassuring Lady that they would return soon, they just leave her there alone with Aunt Sarah, and take their daughter with them on their trip, without reassuring Lady at all. Lady even worries if they are coming back for her at all, or if they are abandoning her. Lady’s disgrace is complete when Aunt Sarah blames her cat’s mischief on Lady and strips Lady of her pretty collar – the very thing that symbolizes Lady belonging to the family – and forces her to wear a muzzle instead. Terrified by this cruel treatment, Lady flees from her Aunt Sarah, only to run straight into the cocky and chivalrous Tramp. After teasing Lady a bit about his prediction proving true, the Tramp shows Lady what a free dog’s life is like. They enjoy a boat ride down the river, have a romantic, candlelit dinner and he shows Lady his special hill with a stunning view of the town and teaches her to howl at the moon.
He also tells her his secret…that he once had a family like hers that he felt loyal to. He was loved by his people too…until one day, he was abandoned by them because they also had a new baby. So, when he asks her to stay with him in this beautiful, free new world, unlike in the original film, there seems to be little reason for Lady to return to her once loving family. There is no baby at home for Lady to protect. While she tells the Tramp that the love that she shares with her family is special and she belongs with them, the Tramp gently reminds Lady that her family abandoned her. And even after she returns home, while it looks like she is happy to be with Jim Dear and Darling again, and her family allows Lady to bond with the baby, I think her heart was still yearning to be on that hill with the Tramp. This is illustrated by Lady howling at the moon one night and later confessing to the Tramp that she missed him and that he has value to her. In the end, the Tramp’s heroism (protecting the baby from being attacked by the villainous rat) is what allows Lady’s family to show this chivalrous street dog what having a real family feels like.
While it does not quite hit them same emotionally nostalgic tones that its animated counterpart does, Disney’s live-action film, Lady and the Tramp, does have some good qualities. The dogs they cast for the titular characters are spot on. Lady looks the part of the beautiful and pampered princess, and the Tramp is definitely the scruffy, streetwise mutt with a heart of gold. I enjoyed the addition of the Tramp’s backstory. It added a deeper emotional layer to his character that allowed him to truly bond with Lady and understand her pain. While the CGI animation on the dogs is a bit clumsy and, at times, a bit creepy, the stunning and beautiful New Orleans backdrop more than makes up for this. It feels like the charming and elegant town from the original film. While not the best of the Disney remakes, this is a movie I would highly recommend.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.