7 Votes in Poll
7 Votes in Poll
So, one of Dreamworks' most underrated-and IMO HILARIOUS-movies is a little musical called Road to El Dorado. For those not in the know, here's what happens; it tells the story of Miguel and Tulio, two Spanish con artists who win a map to the city of El Dorado. After washing up on the coast of South America, they discover the city of gold is real, and are mistaken for gods.
This film is a hilarious adventure, with music scored by none other than Elton John and Hans Zimmer. But would it surprise you to know that it actually under-performed when it was first released?
The film was released in 2000, at a bit of a crossroads for animation in film; Disney was hot off the success of its Renaissance period, producing such classics as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and Lion King, Dreamworks was in its infancy and other animation studios were trying to steal the Mouse House's thunder.
The film also received middling reviews from critics, many of whom thought it was trying to cash in on the success of Disney, as well as for the fact it was unsure to cater more to children or grown-ups.
However, in 2020-when the world was going through the seemingly never-ending lockdown-the film unexpectedly found a second life through GIFs and memes, making it the perfect movie for the Online Generation. Another thing contributing to this film's impact is the comedy; Tulio and Miguel bicker like an old married couple, helped by the chemistry between Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh.
That said, some elements of the film don't hold up today; the storyline of two white protagonists being hero-worshipped by a non-white civilization reeks of "white savior"; Chel, the spunky Native woman who befriends Miguel and Tulio, is the only named speaking female character, and her physical design is so exaggerated, it makes the Disney princesses look realistic by comparison.
Will all that said, El Dorado was an animated film released in the wrong era, and still remains as witty and hilarious as it was all those years ago.