Tonight with the Family: This Disney may not have been the best of the 90s, but it was epic!

In ancient Greece, at the top of Olympus, the kingdom of the gods is preparing to celebrate: Zeus, the king of the gods, and his wife Hera have just given birth to a son. Gifted with exceptional strength, his name is Hercules. But an evil character temporarily disrupts the festivities: Hades, the god of the underworld, is not exactly thrilled with the arrival of a child who can easily thwart his Machiavellian plans.

Indeed, he has long been plotting against Zeus and fully intends to take his place by unleashing the dreaded Titans on Olympus. Convinced that only Hercules will one day be able to stop him, he orders his two miserable underlings to solve the problem. Unable to kill the child, the creatures still manage to make him mortal and deny him access to the realm of the gods.

• Tonight with the family: We always quote Aladdin or The Lion King, but we often forget about this masterpiece that came out 28 years ago.

A good movie among masterpieces

Let’s be clear at the outset: even in terms of Disney film integrity, Hercules is a very good vintage, and even if it ruined many viewers’ first cinematic memories, it’s no 35th animated classic from the enchanted studios. There really isn’t a better place to be when discussing 90s performances.

It’s hard to shine next to the gems of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Hercules, with its simpler plot, less rich character journey, and less ambitious animation that occasionally flirts with cartoons, still exhibits undeniable qualities.

Many features

Let’s especially mention its original soundtrack, again thanks to the brilliant Alan Menken and inspired by gospel music, as well as its villain, both funny and terrifying, played by the excellent Dominique Collignon-Maurin in the French version. (Also known for double Nicolas Cage).

Let’s also note that the film is directed by two legends of the Disney studio: John Musker and Ron Clements, who also signed Basil, Private Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and even Moana. The two directors were credited with integrating into their film (and for the first time for Disney) a unique creature entirely animated in computer-generated imagery – the monstrous Lernais hydra – even if the sequence is somewhat dated today.

Despite its minor imperfections, it is undoubtedly highlighted by the fact that it came out during the golden age of Disney, so Hercules should be (re)discovered with the family if you are looking for solid entertainment for you and your children.

What will you like…

• Many adventures led by Hercules and his battles against the centaur Nessus, the Lernaean Hydra and even the Cyclops.

• Catchy songs that make up the delightful soundtrack of a movie: Consider an example pure gospel or From heaven to hero.

What could be bothering them…

• Evil Hades, of course, is very funny for older children, but can be quite impressive for little ones.

• The kingdom of the dead, in which the latter takes place, and a particularly evil fate, is especially disturbing if you have small children with you.

(Re)discover all the details hidden in ‘Hercules’…