An American Tail

Fievel Mousekewitz and his mouse family set sail for America in the delightfully animated film, An American Tail. Boarding the ship, this little family of Russian immigrants assumes their troubles are behind them. But the ocean crossing turns tragic when Fievel (Laura Carson/Phillip Glasser) is washed overboard during a violent storm. Days later he drifts ashore beneath the Statue of Liberty in a glass bottle boat. With the help of some smartly dressed pigeons and a street-wise friend (Pat Musick), Fievel searches for his family among the newly arrived refugees packed on the New York shoreline.

Meanwhile, the local mice, terrorized by the pier cats and their leader, Warren T. Rat (John Finnegan), organize a rally under the direction of Gussie Mausheimer (Madeline Kahn). Together they construct a "secret weapon" to drive the cats out of the country forever. But the whole plan threatens to fall apart when Fievel is captured by the Rat and his cohorts (Will Ryan, Dom DeLuise).

Along the way Fievel encounters the likes of Honest John (Neil Ross), an inebriated mouse whose character is anything but reputable and an orange tabby named Tiger (Dom Deluise) whose rough start on the streets of New York has put him in some unsavory company. Only after spending time together does this unlikely cat and mouse team discover their similarities and develop a friendship.

Through the personification of a mouse and his family, this heartwarming film by renowned director Don Bluth gives children a touching glimpse of the dreams that brought thousands of immigrants flooding to America during the 1800's, and the hardships many endured upon their arrival. Along with the history lesson, Bluth presents the story of the young mouse's struggle towards manhood and the strength of family ties. That love is beautifully captured in the movie's theme song, Somewhere Out There. Despite some scary clashes between mice and hungry cats (parents will want to be close at hand for younger viewers), this film is a tale worth seeing.