Movie Review: YOUR STUDIO AND YOU

Now, I don't generally review short films because I think they have a very different dynamic than feature-length ventures. I have reviewed one short film - 2011's The Black Mamba - in the past, but that's as far as I've gone to this point. However, Your Studio and You happens to hold a special place in my heart (for reasons I will mention momentarily). I'm embedding the film below - make sure you watch both part one and part two - but let me set the stage a little bit. According to the synopsis on IMDb, executives from Universal Pictures commissioned the making of the short in 1995 after the company was bought by Seagrams. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone directed the piece, which works as a parody of 1950s corporate and industrial films. So without any further delay, enjoy the videos and wait for my "review" after the jump.

So the first thing that you're likely to notice throughout the film is the slew of big-time names that make appearances here and there. From the get-go, we see the likes of Steven Spielberg as Studio Tour guide, Michael J. Fox as a curious young man with a slew of questions, and even James Cameron working on beautifying his surroundings. Sylvester Stallone gets his extended cameo that proves to be one of the most hilarious parts of the film (in my opinion), especially his little afterward at the very end of the film. A few more names that surface that you might recognize include Demi Moore, John Singleton, Angela Lansbury, Brian Grazer and Jeff Katzenberg. The inclusion of these big-time names allows an outside audience (like myself) to connect with the film on a more personal level. Were they not in the film, it might not have appealed to me as much because a lot of the jokes and gags would only appeal to Universal Pictures employees.

Still, those in-jokes are definitely prevalent throughout the film's seventeen-minute run-time. However, if you know anything about Universal Studios in general, you should be able to follow along relatively easily. Knowledge of the Hollywood theme park will also enhance your viewing pleasure quite a bit.

Ultimately, this is definitely a film for anyone who happens to be a fan of Stone and Parker. It has the feel of the rest of their collective work, so if you're into things like South Park, then this should be right up your alley. The two even make an appearance in the film itself, but I won't give it away - I'd rather let the fans spot them. Overall, I personally think that Your Studio and You is one of the funniest short films I have ever seen. If it's not your type of humor, then I apologize, but if you can understand the tongue-in-cheek attitude, then you should have a grand time while watching.

DVD Challenge #3: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1996
G
Run-time: 1 hour, 31 minutes

Directed by: Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise
Starring: (voices of) Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline & Jason Alexander



For those of you who either don't know me or have yet to figure it out, I'm a bit of a Disney freak. I've been an annual pass-holder at the Disneyland Resort for the past two years, and I simply can't get enough of it. I tend to enjoy all Disney films - I have yet to find one that I absolutely hate - but The Hunchback of Notre Dame had never been one that had truly stuck strongly with me personally. However, I saw the DVD on sale for five bucks at a store a few months back, so I figured I'd grab it while I could. This was the first time I've watched the movie in its entirety since its original theatrical run, and I must say that I was rather blown away.

The first thing you're going to notice about Hunchback is that it's a little bit darker than your standard Disney fare. Yeah, Disney has delved into the dark and dreary, but there's something about this one that really sticks it home. A friend of mine called it "Phantom of the Opera meets Disney," and I'd have to agree for a couple reasons: first, it takes place in Paris; second, the characters are definitely correlational, to a degree; and third, the over-arching musical composition is entirely operatic.

Speaking of music, I have to say that in the past, none of the songs from Hunchback ever stood out to me, but having watched it again tonight, I'd have to say that some of the music is downright brilliant. While all of the music works well within the film, there are a few songs that stand above the rest: the opener ("The Bells of Notre Dame"), Quasimodo's lament for freedom ("Out There"), and Esmeralda's prayer ("God Help the Outcasts") are all fantastic compositions that should be applauded.

Despite being a little bit on the dark side, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is still a fantastic addition to the Disney franchise and definitely worth a watch. The characters aren't as memorable as other Disney films, but the story and the music are so powerful that this film ultimately succeeds.

Rankings
Best Animated: #38

Previous DVD Challenge: NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION (1983)