Why I Loved Disney’s Live Action Lady and the Tramp

You have to admit, we’ve all been watching more TV since the COVID lockdowns have begun. I had been meaning to watch the live action Lady and the Tramp, but it wasn’t exactly high on my list of must sees. It really should have been though. This movie was absolutely amazing.

Disclaimer here my friends, I have to admit I am a HUGE Disney fan. There, I’ve said it. I love Disney. Belle was my hero when I was a little girl. She loved to read, she was independent and brave, I connected with her character a lot. The movie and story both enchanted me and made me think, and ever since I have been in love with Disney movies.

In fact, I find it hard to understand those who criticize Disney films. I think that with each film they are modernizing their portrayal of women and women’s roles, the films tell stories that are more than simply happily ever afters and that becomes less subtle with each film in my opinion.

The Story

Back to Lady and the Tramp. The story is one I knew well, not just from the original movie, but from a storybook I had when I was a little girl. I remember those brightly coloured pages, the gorgeous illustrations, and how many times I read that book. So when the movie first started, I was drawn in by the period setting and the cute little dog that was Lady.

The story is far richer than the original. Tramp’s character is fleshed out fully, and Lady faces confusion and insecurity as her people become parents. She is called “bad dog” and is put outside. This just pulled at my heartstrings. I really connected with Lady, imagining how strange it must be to be an animal used to love and attention being suddenly brushed aside simply for wanting to take her walk.

It goes from bad to worse for Lady, and this is where she experiences a taste of life as a street dog with Tramp. This part of the movie had an already hooked me sitting on the edge of my seat! It was touching, sad, fun, and yet full of hope too. When Lady ends up in the pound, caught by the obsessive dog catcher who is out to get Tramp, my guts just twisted inside of me.

The story was well written, and light hearted even though there are moments where you feel sadness for some of hte life experiences of the dogs. There is a feeling of hope throughout, and I really loved how beautifully the story was told. Everything ends happily, and the story of loyalty and friendship is one all of us can learn from and left me in happy tears.

The Animation

I am going to also mention that the setting of this film was just beautiful. Set in a town in the 1910s, the costumes are lovely, the sets are gorgeous, and the dogs are adorable. I believe that real dogs were used in some scenes, while an animated dog were used in others, but it’s difficult to tell them apart and the expression of the faces of the dogs are human and yet so dog like too. It’s a beautiful blending of film styles. The story along with the expression of the dogs just melted my heart at some parts and I’d dissolve into happy tears as I said.

I am a lover of animals, and while I’ve never owned a dog, the idea of being a dog owner one day is becoming more attractive and this movie really drove home to me that in being a dog owner, I’d be a dog parent because these animals are smart and loyal. All animals deserve love and attention if you are going to bring them into your home, and I love how the animation highlights their feelings which might otherwise be taken for granted.

For me, this film was truly an art piece because of how emotionally invested I was, how deeply I was moved and yet Lady and the Tramp was never a favourite film of mine, so there is no nostalgia shaping my opinion. I enjoyed the original movie of course, but it didn’t compare to Beauty and the Beast, or Aladdin. This live action re-make however, surpasses those in my heart. I hope I can still get this on Blu Ray.

Have you seen this movie? What did you think of it? Share your thoughts below.