With the blessing of Mel Brooks, who plays one of the voice characterizations in this movie, PAWS is an animated remake of Mel’s 1974 classic western, BLAZING SADDLES, which is why I was so keen on seeing it. However, instead of a Black sheriff trying to win over a bunch of small-minded White folk in a prairie town, we have a Dog Samurai trying to win over a town of cats.
I was concerned with how sanitized this G-rated version of the raunchy original would end up being. Still, there are enough modern, hip references to the original to keep it snappy. Sure, it occasionally feels more like a rip-off of KUNG-FU PANDA than an homage to BLAZING SADDLES, but the great voice cast, led by Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais (who seems to be having the most fun) and of course, Mel Brooks, elevates the now predictable story. Kids will like this animated fable, and adults who loved BLAZING SADDLES with find it mildly entertaining.
PAWS OF FURY: THE LEGEND OF HANK is a light-hearted, animated remake of BLAZING SADDLES that children will enjoy.
