Pocahontas arrived in 1995 as Disney’s answer to the success of Dances With Wolves, and it plays like it knows exactly what it wants to say. The movie wants to honor Native American history while giving audiences a love story with talking animals. It mostly succeeds at the former and stumbles at the latter.
Trailer, via Kineko Video.
John Smith and Pocahontas
The story follows John Smith (Martin Short), a captain sent to Virginia to establish Jamestown, and Pocahontas (voice by Irene Bedard), the daughter of Chief Powhatan (Russell Means). Their romance is the spine of the film, and it’s the part that holds together. The chemistry between Smith and Pocahontas is warm and believable, even when the plot around them grows tangled.
The supporting cast is solid across the board. James Earl Jones voices Grandmother Willow, a wise tree who serves as a moral compass for Pocahontas. David Ogden Stiers plays Governor Ratcliffe, the villain who wants war with the native people. Linda Hunt voices Meeko, a raccoon who provides comic relief. All four performances are distinct and memorable.
The Songs That Work
The music, written by Alan Menken with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is where the film reaches its peak. “Colors of the Wind” became an anthem for environmentalism and earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song. “Just Around the River Bend” is a quieter, more intimate ballad that fits the characters perfectly. Both songs land because they’re about connection and respect, themes the film returns to again and again.
Not every song is a winner. “Mine, Mine, Mine” and “What a Day in London Town” are fun but slight, and they don’t add much beyond filler. Still, the soundtrack as a whole is stronger than most animated features of the era.
The Problems With the Plot
The middle stretch drags. The film spends too much time on subplots involving John Rolfe (Todd Jensen) and his friend Thomas (Donovan Edwards) that don’t advance the main story. These scenes feel like padding, and they slow down the momentum built up in the first act.
There’s also a moment near the climax where Pocahontas saves Smith by throwing herself on him, only to have him survive anyway. It’s a strange choice that undermines the tension the film has spent building. The resolution feels rushed, and it leaves some questions unanswered.
The Animation
The animation is beautiful. The water effects are particularly impressive, and the forest scenes have a lush, painterly quality that feels ahead of its time. The character designs are expressive, especially Pocahontas herself, whose face carries her emotions clearly. The backgrounds are detailed and vibrant, giving the film a sense of place that few animated movies of the period matched.
“You think the river shows you all there is?”
That line, spoken by Grandmother Willow, captures the film’s central idea: that nature has lessons for those willing to listen. It’s a simple concept, but it’s delivered with sincerity, and it resonates throughout the movie.
Russell Means and the Native American Question
Means plays Chief Powhatan with dignity and presence. His scenes are powerful, and he brings a weight to the role that elevates the film. His performance is the reason the movie’s Native American characters feel more fully realized than those in other Disney films of the era.
But the film’s handling of the historical conflict raises questions. The movie presents the settlers and the natives as equals in a way that oversimplifies the actual history. There’s no discussion of the larger forces driving colonization, and the film doesn’t acknowledge the violence that followed. This is a flaw, but it’s also a deliberate choice: the movie wants to focus on individual kindness over political complexity.
Irene Bedard’s Performance
Bedard’s voice work is subtle and effective. She doesn’t overplay Pocahontas’s spirituality, and she grounds the character in realism. Her performance is the reason the film’s central romance feels earned.
The Final Score
“Pocahontas” isn’t perfect, but it’s ambitious. It tries to do something more meaningful than most animated films of its time, and it mostly succeeds. The music is excellent, the animation is stunning, and the performances are strong. The plot sags in the middle and the ending is rushed, but the film’s heart is in the right place.
- Title: Pocahontas
- Year: 1995
- Directors: Mike Gabriel and Ron Clements
- Score: 6.9/10
Key Facts Box
– Runtime: 83 minutes
– Director: Mike Gabriel and Ron Clements
– Voice cast: Irene Bedard, Martin Short, Russell Means
– Music: Alan Menken
– Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
– Academy Award: Best Original Song (“Colors of the Wind”)
The film’s flaws are real, but they don’t erase its strengths. “Pocahontas” remains a worthwhile entry in Disney’s animated catalog, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors.
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