Fortunately, it's a good reworking, making for one of the better Tom and Jerry films in a series of films where, to me, Fast and the Furry and Tom and Jerry: The Movie were the only not good ones.
The film is a little rushed in places, the film does go at a nice lively pace and has a lot to divert viewers young and old, but the more eventful parts were in need of a slowing down and maybe could have done with doing a little less. Part of me wishes that Tom and Jerry had more to do, again feeling like supporting characters in their own film, what they do have is great, they are still funny and endearing characters if a little too friendly at times towards one another, the humour is clever and hilarious and the slapstick gags and violence are classic Tom and Jerry and never sadistic but there could have been more of it. A couple of the musical numbers are corny and forgettable and not all of them necessary, Red does get to show off her trademark personality but her song felt a little misplaced in comparison to the rest of the film.
On the other hand, it's very well-animated with colours so bright and bold that they positively leap off the screen, the backgrounds have so much detail and with the character designs there is an attempt to keep them true to the classic original designs (especially with the Tex Avery ones, the character design for Red is also one of the better and less deflated ones for all the Tom and Jerry films she starred in). The real joy is the character design of Mr Ginormous which is pretty genius. The music score is rousing and whimsical, and while a couple of the songs are not very memorable or necessary others (especially Jack's) are fun and pleasant.
It's a smartly written film too, with enough wit and charm to captivate children and adults alike, with the variety show and the Aristocats nod being great touches. The story is one that is true in detail and spirit to the original Jack and the Beanstalk story but also with lots of its own touches to make it its own, with a hauntingly melancholic opening, funny slapstick, messaging that is not laid on too thick and warms the heart and its assortment of familiar fairy-tale/nursery rhyme characters (Droopy as Old King Cole is hard to resist). The characters are all engaging, the heroes are likable even with any flaws and the villains are suitably antagonistic and fun, any conflicts and friendships are portrayed more than convincingly. The voice acting, with some very talented people on board, is top-notch.
All in all, a fun Tom and Jerry film that does a good job making a familiar story feel new without disgracing any of the characters involved. 7/10 Bethany Cox
