Hercules, the son of Zeus and Hera, is kidnapped as a child by the minions of Hades.  He is turned mortal by Pain and Panic (the minions), and they try to kill him, but his strength is still with him, and he sends them back to where they came.  He grows up, and as an awkward teen, asks who he really is.  When his earthly parents give him a medal he was found with, emblazoned with the figure of the Gods, Hercules goes to the Temple of Zeus, and learns that he can become a god if he can prove himself a hero.  He studies under the Satyr Philoctetes (call him Phil) and readies himself to be a hero.  On his first mission, he meets Megara, a damsel who seems to be in distress.  Herc falls head over heels for her, while she maintains her distance.  However, we learn that Meg sold her soul to Hades, and he uses Herc's weakness for her to overpower the would be hero and take control of the universe.

Availability:
    VHS:  Pan and Scan

Cast/Crew:
James Woods                        Hades
        Contact
        The Hard Way

Rip Torn                               Zeus
        Men In Black
        The Larry Sanders Show (television)

Danny Devito                       Phil
        Matilda
        Throw Mamma from the Train
        The Rainmaker
        LA Confidential
        Get Shorty
        Taxi (television)
        Space Jam

Miscellaneous:
    This was Disney's second attempt at an all out comedy (Aladdin was the first).  It did not do as well, but there are some great scenes.
    The voice of Meg, Susan Egan, originated the part of Belle in the Broadway musical of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

MPAA Rating:
    G  Animated violence.

My Rating:
    Even though it didn't measure up to the humor of Aladdin, Hercules is pretty good.  The only thing that gets my goat is the complete ineptedness of Pain and Panic (you'd think that in seventeen years, they might learn to get something right).
    *** 1/2
A-I                Night at the Movies