Friday Movie Review - The Great Mouse Detective

For this week's movie review, I am covering what has to be the most classic mystery movie to ever involve mousies, rats, doggies, and kitties.

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Directed By: Ron Clements
Burny Mattinson
Written By: Peter Young
Vance Gerry

Basil of Baker Street is a famous mousie detective who just happens to live in the home of the even more famous bean detective Sherlock Holmes. With the help of Dr. David Q. Dawson, Basil takes on the case of the missing toymaker, Hiram Flaversham, who was mousenapped on his daughter Olivia's birthday. While at first unwilling to take on Olivia's case, Basil soon becomes more enthusiastic as he learns that her father was mousenapped by a peg-legged bat . . . the very same bat that is employed by his arch-nemesis, Professor Ratigan!



Ratigan is known as the "Napoleon of Crime," who, while most definitely a rat, hates to be called a rat. Professor Ratigan even keeps a pet kitty named Felicia who helps him to keep his employees in line by disposing of those who displease him. Ratigan has kidnapped Flaversham in order to force him to build a mechanical replica of the mousie queen, which is all a part of Ratigan's elaborate plan to take over the entire British empire! Can Basil, with the help of Olivia, Dr. Dawson, and a doggie named Toby, put an end to Ratigan's foul plot? Or will Ratigan succeed in becoming the leader of all British mousedom?


This movie is full of comedy, suspense, and action. There is a little something in it for everyfurry. While Ratigan is most definitely evil, he is still likable since he has the good taste to take care of a kitty, and to see a kitty's potential as an enforcer. We kitties make great enforcers of mousies . . . I know I discipline my mousies all the time. Basil is very open-minded to allow a doggie to help him in his sleuthing, even if he does mainly use him just for transportation. (Dana thought Toby looked like just her kind of doggie!) Also, there is a very daring and action-packed scene at the very end, when Basil finally faces off against Ratigan. I give this movie two paws up and a tail poof, for being exciting furry fun!