Disney+ launches TOMORROW with tons of new content to stream (find all the Disney+ details here). And with all of the excellent choices — from The Mandalorian to High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and more — it’s hard to know where to start!
But one thing is for sure, Lady and the Tramp MUST be at the top of your watch list.
This past week, I had the chance to watch an early screening of The Lady and the Tramp while visiting the Disney Studios Lot in Burbank, CA as part of The Geekly Retreat (more on that soon!).
It was AMAZING! And as a dog lover, I loved it on a whole other level. (Though, no surprise, I needed all the tissues to get through the movie.)
How Did the Talking Animals Really Look?
Overall, I’ve loved the recent Disney live-action remakes based on the animated classics, however, there are times where I’ve felt the talking animals looked a little unnatural or distracting — they are TALKING animals, after all!
After screening Lady and the Tramp, the first thing my husband asked me was — how did the talking dogs look? My answer, SO GOOD! This is honestly one of the first live-action remakes where the talking animals didn’t make me think twice. The reason why? Lady and the Tramp doesn’t purely rely on CGI animals, but instead it finds the perfect balance of using real-life trained dogs and computer animation.
While Lady and the Tramp is largely based on the animated classic from 1955, there are some modern twists to the Disney+ remake which I think you’ll love. Tessa from Mama’s Geeky goes into detail on the differences between the animated classic and the live action here.
Will Dog Lovers Enjoy Disney+’s Lady and the Tramp?
YES — and no. Okay, that’s a loaded question and a loaded answer.
I really did love Lady and the Tramp. From the amazing music and the impeccable costume and design pieces, Lady and the Tramp transports you back to the early 1900s. The behavior of the dogs on screen shows how amazingly talented they all are and their interaction and banter between each other definitely will make you laugh.
Before I get into why you might not enjoy Lady and the Tramp, let me first caveat my answer by telling you that I do NOT watch many dog movies… at all. I know there are a ton that come to theaters and have heartwarming stories, but they make me sad so I generally avoid them! (I’ve never even seen Marley and Me.)
As a fellow dog mom who is obsessed with her fur baby, Lady and the Tramp really tugged at my heart strings. Watching Lady’s reactions to the various ways her family would treat her and being able to hear her thoughts and words brought a whole new level of anthropomorphic qualities to the character. And all along, it made me think of my dog!
When Lady was kicked outside because of “poor” behavior, it made me think of all the times I likely misunderstood my dog’s behavior. (I know, I know, I just love my pup so much). And hearing the phrase “bad dog” made me cringe.
Thinking to my own future, when Lady’s family has a new baby that starts to take much of the attention from her, it broke her heart (and mine). As my husband and I consider what it would be like to grow our own family, this made me reflect on how my dog will feel to go through a similar situation. Seeing this transition for Lady on screen made me cry and definitely gave me a new perspective on what this milestone could really mean.
When Lady’s parents leave on a trip, she was heartbroken, confused, and sad. And as I sat in Burbank, CA — hundreds of miles away from my pup — this one tore at my heart.
When Tramp shared his heartbreaking story of how he became a stray, it made me think of all the other great dogs in the world with similar stories. And, yes, I cried again.
But let me also say that while I did cry sad tears, there were PLENTY of moments that brought happy tears to my eyes, too.
Overall Thoughts
All in all, Lady and the Tramp was excellent. It was so good that I’m honestly surprised it didn’t have a theatrical release — just another reason to be excited for future content on Disney+. (Tell me that doesn’t make you want to watch Lady and the Tramp on Disney+ first!)
If you’re a sensitive dog-lover like me, however, it could be hard to watch — but I promise, the journey is worth it.
About Lady and the Tramp
In Disney+’s Lady and the Tramp, a timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic, a pampered house dog and a tough but lovable stray embark on an unexpected adventure and, despite their differences, grow closer and come to understand the value of home. Life is good for Lady, an overachieving American Cocker Spaniel who resides in an upscale suburban neighborhood. Her owners, Jim Dear and Darling, spoil her daily and her neighbors, Jock, an outspoken Scottish Terrier, and Trusty, a world-weary Bloodhound, are always within barking distance. But when a baby enters the picture, Lady is no longer the center of attention, and the arrival of cat-loving Aunt Sarah only complicates matters. Lady soon finds herself alone on the streets in an unwelcoming part of town. Fortunately, Tramp steps in, and the streetwise mongrel is quick to teach her the ways of the world. Before long, the prim and proper pure bred and the fast-talking mutt are partaking in moonlight strolls in the park and romantic spaghetti dinners by candlelight. Tramp savors the independence of a world without leashes or fences alongside his roguish friends Peg and Bull, but Lady misses the comfort and safety of a family, and soon both must decide where – and with whom – they belong.
A heartwarming romantic adventure that seamlessly combines live action and photorealistic animation, Lady and the Tramp stars: Tessa Thompson as the voice of Lady and Justin Theroux as the voice of Tramp; Kiersey Clemons as Darling; Thomas Mann as Jim Dear; Janelle Monáe as the voice of Peg; Yvette Nicole Brown as Aunt Sarah; and Sam Elliott as the voice of Trusty. The film is directed by Charlie Bean from a screenplay by Andrew Bujalski and Kari Granlund, and is produced by Brigham Taylor with Diane L. Sabatini serving as executive producer.
Lady and the Tramp premieres on November 12, 2019, streaming only on Disney+.
Movie images and footage courtesy of Disney+.
First of all, a “Geekly Retreat” sounds awesome! I’d love to hear more about that and it sounds like something I’d like to try and attend someday. I’m looking forward to this one though I’m sure it will tug at my heartstrings.
Love this movie. I will have to order this one again to show to my kids.
Awww I honestly love that you had a bit of a tugging on your heartstrings when it came to this movie. It shows that you really love your dog so much, and that’s an excellent quality to have as a pup owner. This movie does sound really good, though. I hope I get to watch it soon!
I am so exited about this new streaming service. I think I’ll be watching A LOT of tv this weekend.
I bet this is such an amazing film! I loved the original and can’t wait to see this one!
Kileen
cute & little
What an awesome review! As a HUGE dog lover, I know I would cry and be so intrigued!