The Scarecrow (2000)

The Scarecrow Poster

Animated musical fantasy about a scarecrow that saves an orphaned girl from the evil clutches of a maniacal count. Brought to life through magic and love, and aided by his two sidekicks -- a cantankerous mouse and a flying broom -- he's willing to sacrifice everything to win her freedom.

Overview
"The Scarecrow" is a 2000 film that acts as an animated adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Feathertop", directed by Brian Nissen and Richard Rich. The movie centers around a kind-hearted scarecrow called Feathertop who is brought to life by a wonderful fairy. The plot is mostly a love story, covered in a veil of magic and funny, that teaches valuable lessons about honesty, kindness and the real essence of beauty.

Story
The movie's plot begins in the quaint town of Grisham Heights, where Feathertop, a scarecrow, is enchanted to life by a fairy called Miss Bee Bee. She intends him to assist Polly and her mom, who are having a hard time to maintain their bakery amidst the cruel machinations of their covetous property manager, Count Grisham. As soon as alive, Feathertop becomes friends with a quail called Bristles and a bat called Max, who help him browse the human world.

Main Characters and Developments
Feathertop quickly falls in love with Polly, who ignores his true identity. To win her heart, he masquerades as a noble gentleman under the alias 'Sir Feathertop.' On The Other Hand, Miss Bee Bee, who also likes the scarecrow, ends up being sad and leaves Grisham Heights. Count Grisham controls this circumstance to his advantage and casts Feathertop away, exposing his true identity to Polly and the townsfolk.

Intriguingly, despite the revelation, Polly verifies her love for the scarecrow, mentioning that she fell for his generous and caring heart. Inspired by Polly's love, Feathertop faces and beats Count Grisham, bring back peace and success to the bakery and the entire of Grisham Heights.

Animation and Technical Aspects
"The Scarecrow" is celebrated for its charisma in animation for its time. The character styles were appealing, recording the story's dream and the characters' emotions effectively. The background designs were detailed and colorful, magnifying the film's fairy-tale ambiance.

The movie's score, made up by Kurt Bestor and Sam Cardon, matched the animation, providing a proper psychological resonance for each scene.

Important Reception and Impact
Critically, the movie generally received mixed to positive reviews. While some critics concerned it as an enjoyable, kid-friendly endeavor, others suggested that the plot lacked depth. Nevertheless, the central style of love triumphing over superficiality and hardship resonated with the audiences.

"The Scarecrow" ended up being a popular choice amongst parents wanting to reveal heartwarming stories with ethical lessons to their children. Although it may not have made big waves in mainstream animation movie theater, it has actually secured its place as a modest, satisfying family film.

In conclusion, "The Scarecrow" masterfully orchestrated a lovely love story between a girl and a scarecrow, which stressed the importance of inner charm and compassion. The film's unforgettable characters and enchanting dream elements have made it a beloved household picture in the hearts of many.

Top Cast

  • Shawn Hoffman
    Scarecrow (voice)
  • Belinda Montgomery (small)
    Belinda Montgomery
    Polly (voice)
  • Ray Porter (small)
    Ray Porter
    Grisham (voice)
  • Christine Albers
    Miss Bee Bee (voice)
  • Corey Feldman (small)
    Corey Feldman
    Max (voice)
  • David Llewellyn
    Wooden (voice)
  • Paul Masonson
    Cheswick / Gumshoe / Bristles (voice)
  • Prince Davidson
    Cooper (voice)
  • Scotty Leavenworth (small)
    Scotty Leavenworth
    Farley (voice)
  • Chelsea Parnell
    Gretchen (voice)
  • Jim J. Bullock (small)
    Jim J. Bullock
    Magistrate (voice)