Disney’s first animated theatrical sequel is a technical and stylistic achievement featuring beautiful character and effects animation, rich background paintings, and thrilling music from the ever-underrated Bruce Broughton. The movie is best at the beginning, during a spectacular sequence in which a boy rides a giant eagle through the Australian outback. But after that, the script offers few surprises and our hero mice, Bernard and Bianca (Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor reprising their original roles from The Rescuers), are pretty dullsville. Many of the film’s more memorable animal characters are the prisoners of a nasty poacher named McLeach (George C. Scott). Before the final act, these lovable characters, including a frantic lizard and sarcastic koala, are left caged and chained. My biggest gripe about the movie is that, inexplicably, these poor animals are never rescued! In a film called The Rescuers! I wonder if any parents sent their child’s therapy bills to Disney. Also with the voices of John Candy and Frank Welker.