Nearly a decade after its release,
Home on the Range finds its way to Blu-ray with a double-disc package packed with extra features that will delight fans of the movie and lasso a few more as well. Headlining Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench as two stately cows, Maggie and Mrs. Calloway, the film follows their exploits in a battle with a rustler who aims to take over all of the local farmland. Of course, the two cows are not alone: Jennifer Tilly co-stars as a younger cow, Grace, and Cuba Gooding Jr. as the tough-talking horse, Buck. And they'll all prove that you can kick the animal out of the farm but you can't kick the farm out of the animal!
Maggie is sold to an elderly lady who, appropriately, owns the "Patch of Heaven" farm, the lone remnant of land that the rustler Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid) hasn't "acquired" yet. She joins the other two cows in hopes of capturing Slim and reaping the $750 reward, and finds herself up against the bounty hunter Rico (Charles Dennis) and his new ride, Buck. But we're clear, regardless of what humor these other characters provide, that our three lady cows are our heroes.
In the bonus features, you'll get a look at the cow's version (with some... interruptions) of "The Three Little Pigs," deleted scenes, and a few ways to see "behind-the-scenes" material like "Trailblazers" and the "documentary" about yodeling (yes, it's an important plot point). This double-discversion carried with it the film on both Blu-ray and DVD,and again, it's the first time you can catch it in high definition, and classic Disney lovers will appreciate that.
Back inthe story, we're moved by the power of the cows' determination, by thedesire of the animals to do the right thing,and by the community which rises up from disparate animals of every background and species. It's a testimony to the best we can be (rather than the
Animal Farm worst-we-can-be scenario) and a reminder that we can learn to work together if we're willing to see someone else's situation through their eyes. Quite refreshing really, that while this Disney film incorporates more adult humor than some, it still peels back a parable about animals that actually shines a light on how we humans should behave.