Overall Rating: 
3/4
Score: 9.5/10
Grade: A+
Family-Friendliness Scale: Level 5 (Recommended)
Kids ages 5+
An orphan cat in New York City? Sounds like an odd twist, don't you think?
In a modern update of Oliver Twist, Oliver (voiced by a young Joey Lawrence) is abandoned by his brothers and sisters in a free kittens box. Soon enough, Oliver decides to set out on his own. He runs into Dodger (voiced by Billy Joel), who tricks him into getting him his lunch. Hoping to split the reward (hot dogs), Oliver follows Dodger to an alley where a group of dog con artists (Francis, Tito, Rita) and their homeless owner Fagin (voiced by Dom DeLuise) live. Oliver is accepted into the gang after doing a brave deed, but Fagin has three days to pay his boss Sykes or its' his head. But it only gets worse, a plan to draw attention goes absolutely wrong, and it results in Oliver being taken in by a rich girl named Jenny.
Positive Notes
Oliver & Company highly values family, friendship, acceptance, self-sacrifice, and teamwork. Oliver and the gang also set aside personal differences to save Jenny from being ransomed by Sykes. Although originally about to be eaten by the dogs, Dodger does "somewhat" stand up for Oliver, telling about how he helped him get the hot dogs. Jenny is a caring girl who would do anything to keep Oliver out of trouble.
The animation is fun and creative, with a nice New York City background. The voice actors provide a whole lot of emotion to their characters, with Lawrence, Joel, Bette Midler, DeLuise, and Cheech Marin standing out. The music score is memorable by J.A.C. Redford. The story may be more modern than its' basis, but in reality, it is faithful to some of the themes in the original Oliver Twist novel.
The main key-driver to Oliver & Company for me are the excellent and very memorable songs. "Why Should I Worry" is a pop-rock classic by Joel, while "Perfect Isn't Easy" is musical/comedy gold and "Streets of Gold" by Ruth Pointer is a stand-out number. Finally, the late Howard Ashman wrote "Once Upon A Time in New York City" for the beginning, nicely performed by rock legend Huey Lewis.
Negative Notes
A few mildly intense danger scenes. Dogs and cats are seen stealing items. Strongest dialogue includes two uses of the incomplete "what the...?" Bits and pieces of flirting and longing looks.
Conclusion
Oliver & Company was a movie I grew up with. Yes, it did come out six years before I was born, but I remember watching the VHS and dancing to the songs when I was 3 and 4 years old. It has become one of my all-time favorites, and its' still something I love today.
One thing I don't get is that why the film isn't remembered like the films that followed it in the Disney canon. Critical reception was mixed, and it didn't exactly set the box office on fire, though it is considered by some to be the film that begun the "Disney Renaissance", and that it was the first to prove that animation could be "top dog".
But its' just too bad that audiences don't remember it as much, because in my opinion, its' an absolute classic. The songs are nostalgic, toe-tapping, and are ones you'd want to sing-along the next time you heard them. The characters are quirky and engaging, and the story packs powerful and instructional morals on acceptance and family.
And that's many of the reasons why Oliver still has a place in my heart.
