Dustin Putman's Blu-ray Review: Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004)

Mickey, Donald, Goofy:
The Three Musketeers (2004)
Reviewed by Dustin Putman

(Release Date: August 12, 2014) – In 2004, DisneyToon Studios—the direct-to-video branch of Walt Disney Pictures—released "Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers," a sprightly lark generously adapted from the 1844 Alexandre Dumas novel. A decade later, the "10th Anniversary Edition" has arrived and, judging the 68-minute film on its own modest, mid-level ambitions, the experience goes down quite easily. Younger children should especially love spending time with such well-known characters and the quixotic color scheme of the movie's hand-drawn animation. The Medieval-set story finds Mickey Mouse (voiced by Wayne Allwine), Donald Duck (Tony Anselmo) and Goofy (Bill Farmer) working as palace janitors, still dreaming of one day becoming musketeers like the real life royal protectors who came to their aid when they were children. They are led to believe their chance to become musketeers has arrived when they are appointed by Peg Leg Pete (Jim Cummings), unaware that they are merely pawns in Pete's plot to kidnap the lovelorn Queen of France Minnie Mouse (Russi Taylor) and overtake her kingdom. Directed by Donovan Clark, "Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers" is gentle and inoffensive (that is, save for a misguided third act where our heroes think nothing of physically beating up the bad guy). This problematic message aside, the film runs at a quick, involving clip and pleasurably casts not only the three title figures, but also Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Clarabelle the Cow in central roles. It doesn't go above and beyond its aspirations, but it's also difficult to dislike.

A/A-

The animation used for "Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers" is not as sophisticated as that of Disney's theatrical enterprises, but that doesn't mean it isn't pleasantly attractive all the same. The film's 1080p transfer is close to a stunner, particularly in terms of its resplendent rainbow of colors and shading. This is a relatively new film, and as such it is pristine and crisp, free of any troublesome technical anomalies or pitfalls. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is very good, if largely front-heavy. It is an accurate display of exactly what was intended, and the mix is a rock-solid juggling act between the score, the voiceovers and the sound effects. All of the above are never less than clear and intelligible.

Get Up and Dance! (1:47, HD)
Select-Scene Audio Commentary with Mickey, Donald and Goofy (5:08, SD)
Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary (4:56, SD)
"Get the Scoop!" Behind-the Scenes Featurette (9:39, HD)
Disney Song Selection (7:16, HD)

"Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers" slipped under my radar ten years ago (prior to this release, I had never heard of it), and I am very pleased to have discovered it for Disney's Blu-ray premiere of the title. A top-notch A/V offering, a few short but cute extra features, and a slight but likable movie for any age—what's not to like? Disneyphiles and families with little ones should be confident in picking up this title. Gawrsh!