Dog-lovers, in particular, will go ga-ga for this, but this remarkably fresh and funny period tale (set in England, fact fans) has all the ebullience and lovability of its titular characters.
Comment
01/01/00
101 Dalmatians (1961)
97
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:36
Fresh:35
Rotten:1
Average Rating:8/10
Consensus: With plenty of pooches and a memorable villain (Cruella De Vil), this is one of Disney's most enduring, entertaining animated films.
Runtime: 80 mins
Genre: Childrens
Synopsis: When the wicked Cruella de Vil and her henchmen kidnap Dalmatian puppies for their cherished spotted fur, it is up to the puppies' parents, Pongo and Perdita, and some brave farm animals, to free... [More]
Starring: Rod Taylor, Lisa Davis, Cate Bauer, Ben Wright
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi
Reviews for 101 Dalmatians
Top CriticThe definitive telling of an oft-told tale, Disney's family-friendly animated adventure exhibits plenty of energy, wit and style.
03/04/08
Top CriticBrilliant entertainment.
01/26/06
Top CriticFor years... "101 Dalmatians" was my favorite. Looking back on it years later, it still is.
03/04/08
"Cute and cuddly" pretty much sums up this canine caper - once you get past the idea of a lady looking to make a coat out of dalmatian puppies.
03/18/08
If there's one thing that's absolutely first-rate about the film, it's the character of Cruella.
01/01/00
Top CriticWhat has truly kept 101 Dalmatians alive ... is Cruella De Vil herself, one of the most deliciously nasty characters in Disney's oeuvre.
03/29/08
Cruella De Vil is so much a tour de force that she single-handedly snatches the movie away from any retroactive comparisons to post-classical Disney features whose sloppiness is the is their only saving grace.
03/03/08
101 Dalmatians has a lilting, lyrical charm that few other Disney films achieve.
01/01/00
This was the last Disney animated feature (1961) that Uncle Walt lived to see through personally; it can't be a coincidence that it's also the last Disney animated feature of real depth and emotional authenticity.
02/12/08
...despite flaws, we have constant admiration for the insanely-written plot.
01/01/00
The Platinum Edition (Mar 4, 08) has numerous bonus features, such as Virtual Dalmatians, which allows you to adopt, name, and care your own virtual puppy with 101 possibilities, and Puppy Profiler through which you can find out which do you're most like
03/05/08
A rather clever idea, if a bit unsettling.
05/20/03
Top Criticgood enough to merit repeated viewings. Particularly if you're two.
03/30/08
101 Dalmatians holds up well after all these years and continues to provide some rousing good fun.
02/22/08
As one of many delightful little aspects of the film, notice how the owners and their dogs look so much alike.
01/01/00
Disney doggie classic is spot-on entertainment for kids.
11/07/02
While not as indelibly enchanting or inspired as some of the studio's most unforgettable animated endeavors, this is nonetheless a painstaking creative effort.
03/04/08
Top CriticCapturing the essence of Dodie Smith's wonderful children's book, this unforgettable animation. It is one of my favourite animations of all time.
03/23/08
The canine crew seems more real and infinitely more likeable than the humans, and this story is an enjoyable today as it was decades ago.
01/01/00
Latest News for 101 Dalmatians
February 13, 2008:
Exclusive sketches from 101 Dalmatians
RT has an exclusive look at some of the early drawings of Cruella De Vil. More...
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