The Road to El Dorado (2000)

Directors:

Bibo Bergeron
Will Finn

Writers:

Terry Rossio (screenplay) &
Ted Elliott (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

31 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Action | Comedy

Tagline:

They came for the gold... they stayed for the adventure

Plot:

Two swindlers get their hands on a map to the fabled city of gold, El Dorado.

Plot Keywords:

Homosexual Subtext | Latin America | Con Artist | El Dorado | South America

Awards:

1 win & 12 nominations

Cast

Kevin Kline	...	Tulio (voice)
Kenneth Branagh	...	Miguel (voice)
Rosie Perez	...	Chel (voice)
Armand Assante	...	Tzekel-Kan (voice)
Edward James Olmos	...	Chief (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Cortes / others (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Altivo / Various others (voice)
Tobin Bell	...	Zaragoza (voice)
Duncan Marjoribanks	...	Acolyte (voice)
Elijah Chiang	...	Kid #1 (voice)
Cyrus Shaki-Khan	...	Kid #2 (voice)
Elton John	...	Narrator (voice)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic material and language.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/6 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Denmark:A | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Hong Kong:I | New Zealand:G | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #37187) | South Korea:All | Singapore:PG

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

"The Road to El Dorado" is basically an animated version of the "Road" formula that 'Hope, Bob' and Bing Crosby starred in so successfully for several films. In a tribute to the original films and to Hope and Crosby, Miguel and Tulio's reflections in running water briefly twist into caricatures of Bob Hope & Bing Crosby.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Tulio and Miguel arrive in El Dorado Miguel's earrings disappear and reappear between shots.

Quotes:

Tulio: [sighs] Well, it was nice working with you, partner.
Miguel: Tulio, I just want you to know... I'm sorry about that girl in Barcelona.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Tobey Maguire/Sisqo (#25.17)" (2000)

Watch out Mickey, Dreamworks is one step behind.

As a new non-Disney animated film debuts I always find myself asking will we ever have one that can match Disney's musical timing and humorous tone. "The Road to El Dorado" is one of those that comes really close to being as brilliant as Disney. The films title talks about a path that leads to the mysterious Mayan "City of Gold". This myth has been passed down for hundreds of years. In the 1500's a lot of Spanish conquistadors went to the New World in search of this city after it seemed to be impossible to find the "Fountain of Youth", the other mythical discovery. This legend was screaming to be a fantasy film. In the Dreamworks interpretation of this legend, we follow the misadventures of two con-artists (voiced by Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline) who accidentally win a treasure map in a craps game. When the game goes sour, the cons hide out in some barrels and end up on a boat bound for the New World. To their bad luck the boat happens to be captained by the most famous of the Spanish conquistadors, Cortez. Thrown in the depths of the ship by Cortez, our two heroes plan their escape. Without spoiling anymore of the film, the two end up in the New World to follow their map. The Dreamworks animators deliver lush rich scenery and delightful characters. These characters and scenery were a lot like the brilliance found in Disney's "Jungle Book" and last year's amazing "Tarzan". If you remember back to "Prince of Egypt" we had that magnificent look and the celebrity voices but no real memorable relationships. The intricate relationships between the characters in this film is one more step ahead forward Dreamworks. But what the film lacked was a real memorable song. The team of Elton John and Tim Rice, who dreamed up the brilliant soundtrack of the "Lion King", really never deliver a solid song that your kids will be singing weeks after the film. The songs here really have no heart but instead just play during some of the weaker scenes of the film. Now all they have to do is deliver musical songs and a musical score we will want to listen to after the film closes. Disney still reins supreme as head animation studio. But watch out Mickey, Dreamworks is one step behind. (4 of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.