Disney’s thirty-third animated feature was the first to be based on the adventures of a real historical figure, a twelve-year-old Native American girl who in 1607 saved adventurer John Smith from being put to death by her tribe. In Disney’s version, Pocahontas is a fully developed young woman when she meets Smith (Gibson), who arrives in the New World with a greedy governor (Stiers) and his men in search of treasure.
Being a girl who likes adventure, it’s not long before Poccy and Smith are having secret assignations while the British and the natives get increasingly annoyed with each other. In between, Mel gets to sing (not bad), the pair visit Grandmother Willow (a tree-dwelling spirit) and the various animals provide some of the most rib-tickling moments of humour.
It’s unlikely little boys will sit through an adventure that’s also a romance (yuck), but grown-ups and little girls will certainly enjoy the colourful animation, the sing-a-long songs and the well-told tale that are all Disney trademarks. So what if Poccy married a different Englishman and lived in England until she died in real life? As is often the case, the movie ending is much better…
Is Pocahontas suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
John Smith and other characters are shot, which may upset small children.
If you like this, why not try: The Princess And The Frog, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Anastasia, Beauty And The Beast, Mulan,