Faithful reboot retains old school charm
Lady and the Tramp
Cert: U; Disney+
If you are greatly attached to the
1955 animated classic Lady and the Tramp, or indeed any much-loved animated classic, coming at a new, live-action version can be a heady mix of excitement and fear.
You love it so much you want to see it again; you love it so much you don’t want to be disappointed. This live-action incarnation sees the canine classic updated in some respects, mostly related to race and gender, but it is, by and large, a faithful enough version to keep fans happy.
The film opens with an animated sequence and moves to two humans, Darling (Kiersey Clemons) and Jim Dear (Thomas Mann) as he gives her a puppy, Lady (voiced by Tessa Thompson). Lady swiftly becomes the queen of the house, enjoying daily chats with her neighbours, old bloodhound Trusty (Sam Elliott) and terrier Jacqueline (Ashley Jensen).
This is one of the first big changes for original fans: Jacqueline used to be bone-obsessed Jock but is now a fashion-obsessed portrait model.
When Darling becomes pregnant and has a baby shower, Lady gets in trouble for the first time. She turns to her neighbours to discuss this baffling turn of events but they are not there; instead she accidentally tells a passing stray, Tramp (Justin Theroux), her woes.
It is to him that the job falls of explaining to Lady that when her owners have the baby, she will be sidelined. Lady refuses to believe Tramp and off he goes once again, on the run from the dog catcher, whose life’s aim is to catch Tramp.
Then events unfold, involving a crabby aunt and two cats. Another change from the original is the removal of the Siamese cat scene, which had come to be regarded as an unhealthy racial stereotype.
The cats are there; they’re just not Siamese, and they sing a different song.
Lady ends up on the streets, where she again meets Tramp, and their wanderings turn romantic. But then...
From cute rambunctious puppy to comedy dogs with one-liners and some mild peril, director Charlie Bean has kept this pure Disney, and it’s sweet and nice and kids should be charmed.
The original is also on Disney+ if you want to do the comparison. ★★★ AINE O’CONNOR