101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure
Year: 2003
Directed by: Jim Kammerud & Brian Smith
Starring: Barry Bostwick, Susanne Blakeslee, Bobby Lockwood & Martin Short
Runtime: 74 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 06/06/22
Directed by: Jim Kammerud & Brian Smith
Starring: Barry Bostwick, Susanne Blakeslee, Bobby Lockwood & Martin Short
Runtime: 74 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 06/06/22
Unlike most films I have covered in my Disney Animated Sequels review series, One Hundred and One Dalmatians had already recieved the ‘franchise’ treatment in the form of two live action films released in 1996 and 2000 respectively, and an animated Disney Channel series in 1997. So, was there ever a need for an animated sequel to the original film? Perhaps not, but Walt Disney Television Animation being who they are persisted anyway, and the result is 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure. Somewhat surprisingly, it’s not terrible.
Roger (Tim Bentick), Anita (Jodi Benson), Pongo (Samuel West), and Perdita (Kath Sourcie) have been living with their ninety-nine dalmatian pups in their cramped London home for a year. Despite being happier than ever, both Roger and Anita agree that space has become somewhat of a highly sought-after commodity, and so are planning to uproot their large family to a farm in Devon which will give the pups plenty of room to run around and grow. But when one of the pups, Patch (Bobby Lockwood), gets left behind on moving day, he takes the opportunity to track down his TV hero Thunderbolt (Barry Bostwick) in the hopes of learning to become a wonder-dog just like him. Meanwhile Cruella de Vil (Susanne Blakeslee) is trying to overcome her desire for Dalmatian fur by turning to abstract art.
Roger (Tim Bentick), Anita (Jodi Benson), Pongo (Samuel West), and Perdita (Kath Sourcie) have been living with their ninety-nine dalmatian pups in their cramped London home for a year. Despite being happier than ever, both Roger and Anita agree that space has become somewhat of a highly sought-after commodity, and so are planning to uproot their large family to a farm in Devon which will give the pups plenty of room to run around and grow. But when one of the pups, Patch (Bobby Lockwood), gets left behind on moving day, he takes the opportunity to track down his TV hero Thunderbolt (Barry Bostwick) in the hopes of learning to become a wonder-dog just like him. Meanwhile Cruella de Vil (Susanne Blakeslee) is trying to overcome her desire for Dalmatian fur by turning to abstract art.
101 Dalmatians II (not to be confused with 102 Dalmatians) is one of the better direct to DVD Animated Sequels produced by WDTA. Whilst it doesn’t quite attain the lofty heights of films like Return to Neverland and The Lion King II, Patch’s London Adventure is a good quality home video release that will keep the whole family entertained for its duration, similar to Lady and the Tramp II.
The plot is startlingly similar to Lady and the Tramp II now that I think about it, but it has enough dalmatians DNA in there to separate it from that film. A classic tale about why you shouldn’t always meet your heroes, Patch’s London Adventure’s greatest strengths are when it allows Patch’s story to be front and centre.
The Cruella storyline feels entirely separate for most of the film and ends up joining Patch’s story nearer the end; it kind of feels like an afterthought and that the filmmakers were worried about making a Dalmatians film without Cruella in it (especially coming off the back of the two live action films which placed Cruella front and centre of the action) so they just stuck her in for branding’s sake.
Visually Patch’s London Adventure looks strikingly similar to the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Whilst the Xerography animation style certainly wasn’t used in 2003, the character and environment designs are so accurately replicated from that style that it feels like a modern-day Bronze Age Disney Classic. It lends so much character to the film too, unlike The Jungle Book 2 where its modern visual style detracted somewhat from the overall feel of the film, Patch’s London Adventure feels like a natural and direct continuation of the original film because of its choice in visual style.
I do wish that Roger’s song writing had played a larger role in the film akin to the original Disney Classic, but that’s nostalgia talking for me as Patch’s London Adventure does fine without them.
As far as Disney Animated Sequels go, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure is reasonably good. It never excels in any particular areas, but it does provide an overall competent film that doesn’t sour the good name the brand has built for itself. It doesn’t feel unnecessary, and it doesn’t feel like it doesn’t belong either. It never strays too far from its comfort zone, but a film like Patch’s London Adventure will go down well for a family film night particularly with younger children or fans of the 101 Dalmatians franchise.
The plot is startlingly similar to Lady and the Tramp II now that I think about it, but it has enough dalmatians DNA in there to separate it from that film. A classic tale about why you shouldn’t always meet your heroes, Patch’s London Adventure’s greatest strengths are when it allows Patch’s story to be front and centre.
The Cruella storyline feels entirely separate for most of the film and ends up joining Patch’s story nearer the end; it kind of feels like an afterthought and that the filmmakers were worried about making a Dalmatians film without Cruella in it (especially coming off the back of the two live action films which placed Cruella front and centre of the action) so they just stuck her in for branding’s sake.
Visually Patch’s London Adventure looks strikingly similar to the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Whilst the Xerography animation style certainly wasn’t used in 2003, the character and environment designs are so accurately replicated from that style that it feels like a modern-day Bronze Age Disney Classic. It lends so much character to the film too, unlike The Jungle Book 2 where its modern visual style detracted somewhat from the overall feel of the film, Patch’s London Adventure feels like a natural and direct continuation of the original film because of its choice in visual style.
I do wish that Roger’s song writing had played a larger role in the film akin to the original Disney Classic, but that’s nostalgia talking for me as Patch’s London Adventure does fine without them.
As far as Disney Animated Sequels go, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure is reasonably good. It never excels in any particular areas, but it does provide an overall competent film that doesn’t sour the good name the brand has built for itself. It doesn’t feel unnecessary, and it doesn’t feel like it doesn’t belong either. It never strays too far from its comfort zone, but a film like Patch’s London Adventure will go down well for a family film night particularly with younger children or fans of the 101 Dalmatians franchise.