Disney Classics Marathon :pound_symbol:6

So, props to Disney for stereotyping America as well instead of just other cultures? Yay?

"Saludos Amigos" is the worst of the six "War Time Package Movies" that the Disney Company delivered through the late 40s and I‘m honestly surprised those films managed to stay part of the official Disney Classics canon instead of being just put on a different shelf and ignored for all eternity.

That being said, they are not all bad. Some of them certainly have their moments or at least somewhat now iconic elements. "Saludos Amigos" is not necessarily one of them.

I admit, I wasn’t even sure I have seen the complete film before. I remembered elements, like Pedro the Plane or the new character of José Carioca (though that could be from "The Three Caballeros" as well) but I don’t know if I have truly ever seen it as a whole. I surely did not remember any of the live actions parts.

I do like the combination of live action and animation, if done well (like Mary Poppins, Enchanted, Who Framed Roger Rabbit or cinematic masterpiece Space Jam) but unfortunately Disney’s documentary tour through South America doesn’t really work here. It’s not a bad idea per se, but the execution comes with a trigger warning now on Disney+ so go figure.

Let’s face it, Disney loves two things (besides money): Cultural appropriation and stereotyping. And while I think "Saludos Amigos" is not the worst offender when it comes to harmful stereotypes or just plain weirdness while dealing with other cultures (I‘m sure Dumbo, Peter Pan and Pocahontas would agree), the stereotypes represented in the animated segments are certainly not something to look upon and remember fondly.

Lake Titicaca

Not much happens in this first segment to be honest. Donald, who people at least recognize, travels to Lake Titicaca, meets down locals and also there are llamas. The only fun part about this. It could’ve easily been a random Donald Duck cartoon with not much going for it. Donald is mostly entertaining in his own cartoons, here not so much. It happens. It stereotypes. It ends. No one cares.

Pedro

Here we have the short story about an anthropomorphic plane named Pedro, ready to take its first delivery flight. This is a segment I actually remembered, though not very well. It’s the most dramatic story and for some reason also the most cartoonish in design. Tone and art style don’t really match well, but the score is well chosen. The segment actually sparked a lot of controversy, especially some criticism from Chilean cartoonist René Ríos Boettinger, who felt his country was so misinterpreted with the character of Pedro, that he created his own cartoon character, named Condorito, to counter it.

El Gaucho Goofy

As far as the terrible stereotyping goes, this segment is the worst offender and most buzzard entry on the list. By throwing in Goofy, yet another iconic Disney character is added to draw in in audiences and give them something familiar. He starts the segment as your typical American cowboy and slowly learns the way of the gaucho with every cliché thrown at it. This part of the film is the main reason it now comes with a disclaimer, because yeah, fun with stereotypes (I know some films are a "product of its time" but this was never okay the it was done and is partially uncomfortable to watch these days“)

Aquarela do Brasil

Probably the most recognizable segment and due to its music, the most lively part of the movie. It introduces José Carioca, a new character that would pop up occasionally through Disney History, especially in follow up movie "The Three Caballeros." He teaches Donald the samba and there are dancing flamingos, so there’s that I guess.

I‘ll be honest, I don’t have that much of an opinion here. Why I respect certain aspects of the film (mostly some of the animation and soundtrack) I was just increasingly bored with it as I kept watching. It’s fortunately not very long, but more than enough. I just kept losing interest as I watched.

I‘m sure "Saludos Amigos" has its fans, I‘m for one, are not one of those.

3.5 out of 10 stars.