Hunchback of Notre Dame II

“Hunchback of Notre Dame II,” released in 2002, picks up about seven or more years after the original, as been told by Zephyr (Haley Joel Osment), the son of king’s guard Phoebus (Kevin Kline) and his charming wife, the gypsy dancer Esmerelda (the hot Demi Moore). Zephyr has made a strong friendship with Quasimodo, voiced by Tom Hulce, who still rings the bell in the block tower. The movie does guess that you are familiar with the first film and doesn’t really spend much time reintroducing characters except for a few throwaway lines in the first song.

The theme of “Hunchback of Notre Dame II” is about taking a second look and not jumping to conclusions. While this is really clear between Quasimodo the hunchback bell ringer and Madellaine, voiced by the hot Jennifer Love Hewitt, the magician’s assistant who only works for the antagonist to keep from being turned into the police for trying to steal from the criminal when she was a child, the theme shows up in other relationships. The prize Notre Dame Bell La Fidele appears more beautiful underneath than on its surface. There’s also a subplot about Phoebus guessing about Madellaine and the traveling circus and jumping them in with gypsies, even though his wife Esmerelda is one, which causes trouble between them.

The drive of the story takes place around the Festival of Love coming to town, and Quasimodo saddened that there’s no one for him. Esmerelda – Quasimodo’s love from the first film – tires to encourage him that someone will come for him. Before you realize, a circus come into town that includes the magician Sarousch, voiced by Michael McKean, and his assistant Madellaine. Madellaine’s assigned by Sarousch to “wile and guile” the bell ringer so that La Fidele can be located and eventually stolen. Shannon Muir stated in her review, “This is largely because Sarousch plays as a self-absorbed, single-faceted, but ultimately cowardly character, who needs people such as Madellaine and other assistants to do things for him.” He is more than a threat to influence Madellaine’s motivation than anything else. Actually, Zephyr is there primarily to increase the tension in the climax because Sarousch is such a weak villain.

Muir said, “The strength of the movie comes in the growth of Madelline and Quasimodo's relationship to one another. Madellaine first sees Quasimodo, and to the film's credit, becomes repulsed and runs off, refusing to complete Sarouch's assignment. How Madelline and Quasimodo come together for her to try again flows naturally, though possibly quickly given the film's timeframe.” Early on, young Zephyr asks, “Who’s going to scream your name tomorrow, Quasimodo?” (He means to say, who will proclaim her love of him at the festival). Whatever takes place in this film is in the duration over a day and a half at the most. However, the climax with Sarousch occurs at sundown of what would be the “tomorrow” referred to, ending the movie in broad daylight the following day. Muir admitted, “I can only be left to conclude that the part of the festival for which the bell was to be used originally should have happened at sundown.” Also, it’s not clear how Sarousch knew so much ahead exactly where the tunnels were under the town before he arrived, which from Madellaine’s comments he would have to have known to execute this plane. Overall, though, the growing of their relationship is the reason this is enjoyable to watch.

The trio of gargoyles from the first film, voiced by Charles Kimbrough, Jason Alexander and Jane Withers, also appear in this movie and Muir states “but there's not much I can say about them. Their appearances are few and far between, and I didn't really find any of the bits they did to be funny.” Mainly, these three look like they are out of requirement and for marketing.

How to really see the verdict “Hunchback of Notre Dame II” comes in as somewhat of a problem. Looking at the screen time and character development, Madellaine is basically the protagonist when it should be Quasimodo, who falls to second place. If this movie is really a sequel, it comes up short as its main character does not come from the original cast. The original cast largely plays instead as supporting cast to Madellaine. However, looking at the story firmly on its own pros, about a travelling circuit girl who may find love and recovery through a hunchback bell ringer, it’s a convincing, although short story. Muir concluded by saying, “So I find myself having to deduct from the DVD's feature rating slightly for not living up to being a true sequel, but still recommend it as worth a rental at least.”

I would have to agree with her and say that this should be given a chance to watch only once, and if you don’t like it, fine. However, I like this sequel, even though it is lighter in tone, but I didn’t mind that at all. Like I have stated before yesterday, this was given harsh reviews and I thought it wasn’t as bad as everyone says it is. There is entertainment and enjoyment value in this movie, so look at that instead of thrashing it.

Check in tomorrow where I look at the Tarzan sequels in “Disney Sequel Month.”