Product Review

That adorable little imp Fievel Mousekewitz is back (An American Tail, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West). Plucky and determined, Fievel sets out on a quest for buried treasure, located under old New York City, where he and his family happily reside (although his sometimes-cranky father is a workaholic). Underground, Fievel meets a clandestine civilization of Native American mice, with a sweet little gal reminiscent of Pocahontas to provide a little romance to boot. This may be a direct-to-video offering, but the quality is topnotch--animation is rich and lush, and the original tunes are fun and catchy. Moreover, the movie stresses such welcome notions as loyalty, family, affection, friendship, honesty, and honor. There's even a modest but effectively put message about who really belongs in America. Dom DeLuise, Party of Five's Lacey Chabert, and David Carradine lend their voices to the production. (Ages 2 and older) --N.F. Mendoza