MovieChat Forums > An American Tail (1986) Discussion > Did Fievel drive anyone else crazy?

Did Fievel drive anyone else crazy?


Now I remember seeing this movie and the sequel as a child (the sequel much more often). And I just watched it today. It's a wonderful film, but Fievel makes cringe every time. Even when I was little, the film drove me crazy because there were so many times catastrophe could have been averted if *only* he had listened to his parents or not go running off. Granted, it wouldn't have been much of a movie...

All I think, though, is "Dammit, Fievel!"

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Yes! I felt exactly the same when watching this again as an adult, the way he purposely lost his hat in order for him to have an excuse to go up on deck and retrieve it really annoyed me haha

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It adds to the realism though. I think kids often "drop things" so they can get them. I have a feeling I did the same when I was younger, or I have seen people do it. It's kind of nostalgic from that angle.


My favorite Final Destination is the 4th – DEAL with it!

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That scene doesn't bother me however, the problem is that Fievel never changes or seems to evolve and then makes the same mistake when he's older in Fievel Goes West. That's the fundamental problem with the character and ironically its a problem that wasn't part of the original script. A lot of people forget that the studio cut down production time and wanted the finished product on an earlier deadline that what was originally agreed upon. As a result Fievel's character arc and him becoming less and less impulsive gets cut out of the movie. In the original script Fievel still gets to the same places, but it takes longer and events happen a bit more believably. The finished product while not horrible is an American Combo sandwich with everything except the meats.

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I noticed that myself. I found it odd that he didn't learn from his mistakes and grow up. I noticed that Tanya does.

It's too bad his character arc was changed. Kids who watch it may get the wrong message due to that.

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