Pete's Dragon (2001, VHS)

This is one of many live action Disney movies employing the tactic of mixing animated characters with real actors. "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and "Mary Poppins" each have a scene in a magical land in which the main characters are the only ones who aren't cartoons. In "Pete's Dragon," Elliot the dragon is the only animated character, but he appears throughout the whole movie. He also disappears. At many points in the movie all we see of him is the havoc that he wreaks.

I don't know which came first, "Pete's Dragon" or the song "Puff, the Magic Dragon," but both are based on the same basic premise: a boy and a dragon are best friends, and eventually the boy doesn't need the dragon anymore. Pete is the boy in this tale. He is an orphan who was bought by the Gogans, a vicious gang of hillbillies, for the sole purpose of causing him misery. Life is wretched for him until he is rescued by a huge benevolent dragon named Elliot. Together they escape Pete's "family" and make for Passamaquaddy, a quaint little town in New England.

Immediately Elliot's size gets him into trouble as he causes disasters all the way into town. Since he is invisible at the time, Pete is blamed. But Elliot appears just long enough for Lampie, the local lighthouse keeper, to see him and get scared out of his wits. Angry that his chances for friendship in this town seem to be ruined, Pete hides with Elliot in a cave by the lake where he is discovered by Nora, Lampie's daughter.

Things start looking up for Pete as Nora takes him in and gives him a room in the lighthouse. Elliot is content to stay in the cave for the night, but the next day the boy gets into more trouble than ever when Elliot decides to come to school. Meanwhile, Doc Terminus, the travelling crackpot doctor, is in town trying to convince the townspeople to buy his potions. When he gets wind of Pete's dragon, he is thrilled with the rpospect of the hundred of potions that he could make if he could only get his hands on Elliot. Then who should show up but the Gogans.

Together with his sidekick Hoagy, the Doc convinces the Gogans to help capture Elliot -- provided they get Pete. In a thrilling climax, Pete must struggle to save Elliot from butchering while Elliot tries to protect Pete from the Gogans. In addition to all of that, a vicious storm is brewing, a ship is out at sea, and Nora can't get the lighthouse burner working. It's one thrill after another right up until the film's touching conclusion.

The songs in this movie are phenomenal, from the sentimental "Boo Bop Bopbop Bop" (that's Dragon for "I Love You") to the hilarious "Passamashloddy" to the charming duet "It's Not Easy" to the beautiful "Candle on the Water." All are memorable, and after one viewing you'll find yourself singing along. Laughs abound in this movie, but there are also some tears. Elliot's mission in life is to help children in need, and once Pete is safely settled with Nora he must leave Pete for his next needy child.

This movie has a little bit of everything, and it is sure to be enjoyed by adults as much as by children. Don't miss this fantastic Disney classic!