Watching Disney’s live-action Lady and the Tramp made me nervous. I’m not one to let a bad remake ruin my love of the original, and I really love the original Lady and the Tramp. I just wanted them to get this story right. I visited the set back in 2018 and fell in love with everyone making the movie. I wanted this to turn out great for them and for me and for everyone who loved the animated classic.
The basic story of the Lady and the Tramp remake remains the same as the original. Jim Deer (Thomas Mann) gifts Darling (Kiersey Clemons) with Lady (voice of Tessa Thompson) for Christmas. After a visit from Aunt Sarah (Yvette Nicole Brown) and her unruly cats, Lady sets off on an adventure with Tramp(Justin Theroux), a streetwise mutt from the wrong side of the tracks.
The story isn’t a shot for shot remake. They added a few scenes, changed a few details, and gave Tramp a backstory. All of the human characters in the film got a bit of a makeover, too, with a little more character development and a lot more screentime.
Lady and the Tramp gets a lot of things right. The film looks absolutely beautiful. The problematic siamese cats were replaced with a new look and song. The extra storytelling, for the most part, added to the movie rather than bogging it down. Overall, the live-action Lady and the Tramp is a movie that should feel right at home during your next family movie night.
That’s not to say I don’t have a few critiques. My biggest grievance with the movie is the animation. I could never quite forget I was watching a dog born in a computer during any of the talking dog scenes. That disconnect definitely took away from the film. I was also left a little flummoxed by the dogcatcher’s (Adrian Martinez) expanded role. While it provided some fun, campy moments, it ended up feeling as if some critical scene explaining his motivation had been left on the cutting room floor.
Should You Watch Disney’s New Lady and the Tramp?
Worried about your little ones watching the film? The rat scene in the third act might be a bit scary for younger viewers. There’s also a veiled reference to putting animals to sleep in the dog pound scene that could be upsetting to sensitive children. There’s action, but no violence, language or adult content. Other than the rat and the dog pound scenes, you can watch this one with the kids worry-free.
As for me, I really did enjoy the Lady and the Tramp remake. It isn’t a perfect movie, but it’s a perfectly sweet family film that’s worth watching. You can stream it and the animated original now on Disney+. You can also stream the animated sequel, Scamp’s Adventure, but you’re probably better off just forgetting that one altogether…
About The Lady And The Tramp Remake
In Disney+’s “Lady and the Tramp,” a timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic, a pampered house dog and a tough but lovable stray embark on an unexpected adventure and, despite their differences, grow closer and come to understand the value of home. Life is good for Lady, an overachieving American Cocker Spaniel who resides in an upscale suburban neighborhood. Her owners, Jim Dear and Darling, spoil her daily and her neighbors, Jock, an outspoken Scottish Terrier and Trusty, a world-weary Bloodhound, are always within barking distance. But when a baby enters the picture, Lady is no longer the center of attention, and the arrival of catloving Aunt Sarah only complicates matters. Lady soon finds herself alone on the streets in an unwelcoming part of town. Fortunately, Tramp steps in, and the streetwise mongrel is quick to teach her the ways of the world. Before long, the prim and proper pure bred and the fast-talking mutt are partaking in moonlight strolls in the park and romantic spaghetti dinners by candlelight. Tramp savors the independence of a world without leashes or fences alongside his roguish friends Peg and Bull, but Lady misses the comfort and safety of a family, and soon both must decide where – and with whom – they belong. A heartwarming romantic adventure that seamlessly combines live action and photorealistic animation, “Lady and the Tramp” stars: Tessa Thompson as the voice of Lady and Justin Theroux as the voice of Tramp; Kiersey Clemons as Darling; Thomas Mann as Jim Dear; Janelle Monáe as the voice of Peg; Yvette Nicole Brown as Aunt Sarah; and Sam Elliott as the voice of Trusty. The film is directed by Charlie Bean from a screenplay by Andrew Bujalski and Kari Granlund, and is produced by Brigham Taylor with Diane L. Sabatini serving as executive producer.
“Lady and the Tramp” is now streaming only on Disney+.