This follow up to Saludos Amigos really consists of three segments or shorts that are grouped together by a fairly weak storyline. First there is a tale of a penguin that wants to live where it’s warm, then a story about a flying donkey, and finally we have the adventures of the three caballeros.
Highlights: I really enjoyed the first two segments. They were short, sweet, and funny. Everything that you’d expect from a Disney short – I especially love the one about a penguin who can’t stand the cold and tries to move up where it’s warm. There were two bonus shorts at the end, which I really enjoyed. The first one was about Donald finding the fountain of youth, and it was hilarious. The other was about Pluto and it was pretty good.
Low points: The three segments of the movie are grouped together by a fairly weak storyline. I didn’t really love the second half of the movie, which was the main focus. Basically, Jose and Panchito take Donald Duck on a tour of Latin America, stopping in various cities and learning a few tidbits. And Donald did not come off in the best light. He was chasing down women left and right, desperate for a kiss, didn’t really matter from who. And once he gets his kiss the movie turns really freaky. I mean, it had a storyline and for the most part made sense up until then, but all of the sudden things just go psychedelic. Basically Donald is high from the kiss that he received, and sees singing women in flowers, in the sky, and starts dancing with some cacti. Basically the whole time I was sitting there wondering, “What the heck is going on?”
Music: It was okay. The goal was to make it ethnic, which they did, but it’s just a very old fashioned feel. Not surprising, since it’s from the 1940’s, but it’s not timeless like the songs from Snow White either.
Villain Rating: Not really applicable to this film.
Fun Fact: Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought Donald’s actions with women were a bit inappropriate. A quote in a review from The New Yorker stated that “It might even be said that a sequence involving the duck, the young lady, and a long alley of animated cactus plants would probably be considered suggestive in a less innocent medium.”
Where in the World: The Three Caballeros have a much greater presence in Walt Disney World these days, now that the Mexican boat ride in Epcot has been rethemed as the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros. Donald as a caballero can be seen for meet and greets in the Mexican pavilion at times. There is also topiaries of them at the Coronado Springs Resort, and a Fountain of the trio at the All Star Music Resort pool.
Personal rating: 5 out of 10. I enjoyed this more than Saludos Amigos, and some of it was cute, but overall it really just doesn’t do much for me.
Yeah, I head someone say that this was their favorite Disney movie which made me go, “Wha?!”.
And Donald going girl-hungry in the end went on for too long. Although, I’m sure I’d go high too if some girl ever kissed me, lol.
I know someone as well who also says it’s their favorite Disney movie – I just can’t understand why!
Yeah, I mean: THIS over Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, all of that? I don’t get it, lol.