STRUGGLES TO FIND THE RIGHT TONE

As much as it’s interesting to hear the kind word of Walt and his career, the documentary delves deep into other areas that don’t become relevant to tell the story of Mickey Mouse. It’s the annoying procedure when the story shift between past and present storylines. Not all is new, but the story of how Donald Duck and Goofy are created is mentioned and detailed such as how Donald was Mickey’s rage temperament and Goofy was the dumber side, as audiences had restrictions on the mouse.

There’s also a lot of war propaganda and how the country’s mood changed with the character and how Walt changed therefore as well. It struggles, in its coming-of-age storyline, to focus on what’s the most important, without the unnecessary chitchat with fans distracting from the storyline. It shows the bad and the good with the character, the early developments, and the turmoil Disney had with his brother Roy when once lost his character Oswald. As much as this tribute goes to the legacy of the character because Mickey Mouse has become a timeless character, as does his present image to the audience in the present day.

It feels like this is also an imagined story about the corporation itself, as the company wants to redeem its foreboding past, trying to disconnect itself from the propaganda and racial stuff that’s clearly detailed in this film. It’s a story that could have been more focused and more distinctive on the character, which was something Jeff Malmberg didn’t want to do just. However, Mickey Mouse is the reflection of our world and vice versa. In the overall image, Mickey is an undeadly character despite the flaws of his origin.