Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Misfire with talking characters, forgettable musical score.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
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Where to Watch
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Tom and Jerry: The Movie
What's the Story?
TOM AND JERRY: THE MOVIE finds the perennially fighting cat and mouse on a non-traditional adventure. Instead of the typical Tom and Jerry story line and traditional cat-and-mouse antics, the filmmakers opted for a fairy tale, a complete musical score with song-and-dance numbers, and Richard Kind and Dana Hill as the voices of Tom and Jerry. Accidentally left behind when their family moves and their beloved house is demolished, Tom and Jerry are homeless, forced to hang together to survive. When they meet Robyn Starling (Anndi McAfee), a little girl who believes she's an orphan and has run away from her scary, mean Aunt Figg (Charlotte Rae, shrill and scary), T and J find new purpose. They commit themselves to rescue Robyn and, in their efforts, face an assortment of very bad guys, all of whom will stop at nothing to get their hands on Robyn's fortune. The chase gets more intense when the villains learn that Robyn's father may not be dead after all.
Is It Any Good?
Someone had a very bad idea. The cherished mystique of the almost-silent cat-and-mouse cartoon antics of Tom and Jerry is shattered here by the startling addition of the characters' voices. Whatever kids (grown-ups, too) have imagined them to sound like can't possibly be anticipated, can't possibly be duplicated, and is bound to fail. And, somehow, the guys have managed to express themselves very well without words. Coupled with a derivative, forgettable musical score (with the exception of "Friends to the End" and, perhaps, "I Miss You") and a plot that goes in several directions at the same time with so many peripheral characters you'd need index cards to keep them all straight, this is a barely passable effort. It's interesting to note that this was a one-time-only endeavor; neither the voices nor the pairing of Mancini-Bricusse with Tom and Jerry ever appeared again.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what happens when an established franchise switches gears. How was this movie different from the usual Tom and Jerry fare? Were you disappointed, or did you like the changes the filmmakers made?
What parts of this movie reminded you most of a fairy tale? Who was the "princess"? Which villain was most like an evil witch or stepmother or king? What fairy tale character roles did Tom and Jerry fill?
"You can't tell a book by its cover" is a famous saying. How does it relate to all of the villains in this movie? Based on your answer, what does the term "hidden agenda" mean?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 1, 1992
- On DVD or streaming : March 12, 2002
- Cast : Richard Kind , Dana Hill , Anndi McAfee
- Director : Phil Roman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Home Video
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals , Friendship , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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