An American Tail

An American Tail is currently streaming on major platforms, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 1,465 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Phillip Glasser is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

An American Tail is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. An American Tail does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. A young mouse named Fievel and his family decide to migrate to America, a "land without cats," at the turn of the 20th century. But somehow, Fievel ends up in the New World alone and must fend off not only the felines he never thought he'd have to deal with again but also the loneliness of being away from home. Phillip Glasser and Erica Yohn lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1986. The timing in An American Tail is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

An American Tail is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Phillip Glasser's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.