101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure

Small children should be thrilled by the animated antics of “101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure,” one of the better Disney-produced direct-to-video sequels, released in 2003. Reasonably smart touch is also suitably energetic to entertain grateful parents – and may even please many adults without children with happy memories of the original 1961 cartoon feature.

Apparently taking place just a few months after the events shown in “101 Dalmatians” – clothes, cars and black-and-white TV’s suggest an early ‘60s timeframe – the movie reintroduces dog lovers Pongo (Samuel West) and Perdita (Kath Soucie), proud parents of a family so huge that the sequel begins with dog owners Roger (Tim Bentinck) and Anita (Jodi Benson) planning to move from London to a country home, to give enough room for the dog couple, their loud offspring and the dozens of other puppies freed from the evil Cruella de Vil (Susanne Blakeslee) at the end of the 1961 masterpiece.

However, during the movie, one of the puppies Patch, voiced by Bobby Lockwood, is accidentally left behind (Home Alone, anyone?). This dog goes off to a TV audition, hoping to land a guest star role next to his idol Thunderbolt, voiced by Barry Bostwick, who Joe Leydon describes Thunderbolt as “a Rin Tin Tin-like superstar.”

Troubles start as Thunderbolt hears he’s being written out of his own show – the lying rumors said by Lightning, voiced by Jason Alexander, Thunderbolt’s ruthless sidekick. When Patch’s handfuls of siblings are kidnapped once again by the persistent Cruella, Thunderbolt takes the opportunity to gain publicity as a real-life hero. However, finally, it’s up to Patch to think up a great escape.

Leydon credits, “Animation directors Hiroshi Kawamata and Kenichi Tsuchiya meticulously mimic the appealingly casual rough-sketch look of the 1961 “101 Dalmatians,” while writer-directors Jim Kammerud and Brian Smith deftly recycle most of the original pic’s major and minor characters.” Cruella de Vil once again is shown, as Leydon describes, “As the campiest, wiggiest villainess in the Disney pantheon,” and she’s hilariously joined up with ridiculous henchmen Horace (Maurice LaMarche) and Jasper (Jeff Bennett).

The only new character to mention is Lars, voiced by Martin Short, an artificial futuristic artist who looks at least, as Leydon describes, “Partially inspired by Mike Myers’ “Sprockets” persona.” Adult viewers probably will laugh louder than children as Lars is strangely drawn to Cruella as a deliberate and possible nice guy. When she cruelly ridicules his work, he cries: “Your harsh words strike me like blows from the fists of a large dockworker!”

Just like I have stated a few times before this month, this is one of those direct-to-video sequels that I highly recommend. If you loved the first “101 Dalmatians” movie, than you will definitely fall in love with the sequel. It’s actually way better compared to the other sequels, like “Lady and the Tramp 2.” Actually, I don’t even want to think that sequel was created. However, this one is actually worth checking out because Patch is actually a lovable puppy, compared to Scamp! I’m sorry; I just have to get that sequel out of my head. “101 Dalmatians 2” gets a recommendation from me.

Speaking of direct-to-video sequels that I don’t even want to think about ever being created and not recommending, I’ll be looking at another one, sadly, tomorrow in “Disney Sequel Month.”