MovieChat Forums > An American Tail (1986) Discussion > too much 'romance'?

too much 'romance'?

posted 20 years ago by koniygn
4 replies | jump to latest

i watched this film when i was just 4; and 15 years after, i watched this film again just yesterday and it still reminds me many good dreams in my childhood. but i have doubt about its main theme -- is it originally a love story rather than a family story? why i say so is because of the scene in the film:

1) the song "somewhere out there" is so lovely that... i would discribe that would be a song for those men going into a war but the ladies are separated from their boyfriends -- in love, but forced separated

2) the fountain near the final scene... it seems that would be too romatic for a family regrouping; instead, that will be perfect and romantic enough for a long-separated couple to meet each other again

3) the sequence of Fievel finding his family is, well, like some typical love story -- separated, and try hard to find each other, and at last "against all odds" they meet each other again -- almost the same as the Cold Mountain (2003)

4) the combination of characters when all of them flying over the Status of Liberty ... Fievel is flying with Tanya and Papa is flying with Mama, similar to the final scene of Tarzan (1999); and when Fievel and Tanya wave goddbye, it reminds me the Pearl Harbor (2001) =P

in short, i feel that American Tail overdoes the element of "love" or "romance"; but still, the American Tail is a good film, and i love it very much.

[–] hanamei23 20 years ago

I agree the movie does have a strong element of love, but it's not romantic love. There's absolutly nothing wrong or missing from the love and connection in a family. I think it was probably always intended to be a family story rather than a romance. That is one thing that kids' movies need more of--a good story without a romanic connotation. What do little kids know about that stuff anyway. Not that it doesn't make for a good story, but I think that kids and families can relate to this theme better.

[–] maybellinezmascaragurl 19 years ago

Wow, u overanalyse a lot!!!!!!
I think it could have been romantic, but it wasn't. it was perfect!

And Tony and Bridget were the perfect amount of romance needed!

[–] astarisborn94 13 years ago

Not really. Outside of the love interest between Tony and Bridget, I haven't seen much of a romance theme in the movie. The love element is strong for obvious reasons, but not to the point of romance.
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Talking about my movie experience in here: http://astarisborn94.livejournal.com/

[–] mammamia1216 13 years ago

To this day I still think it's weird when "Somewhere Out There" is taken as a love song (I know I know - that R&B music video notwithstanding). It just makes me want to shout, "It's a brother and a sister singing the song! It's not like that!"

but I thought Tony and Bridget were so cute.

That textbook is like 1000 years old! It still refers to dementors as ringwraiths!