Hercules (1997)

“For a true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.” – Zeus

In the early 90’s, Disney had been through one of the most successful production runs in its history as a company, known nowadays as the Disney Renaissance. Films like “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “The Lion King” broke records for animated movies, and brought attention and fame back to the animation medium. As the decade chugged on, Disney would continue to pump out film after film. Every one would follow upon the same “Renaissance formula” of storytelling and setup. While not as immensely popular as the early 90’s masterpieces, they are still considered great in their own right. Some can even claim to have just as much popularity as the other Renaissance movies. Out of this late 90’s era came one of Disney’s most beloved cult classics: 1997’s “Hercules”.  

In the days of Ancient Greece, the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus are living the high life and celebrating the birth of Zeus’s newborn son, Hercules. However, Hades, Lord of the Underworld, is seeking the throne of King of Olympus. Seeing Hercules as a threat to his plans of cosmic domination, Hades has his bumbling minions turn the infant mortal, leaving Hercules on Earth where he is found by human parents. Raised unsure of his incredible, god-like strength, Hercules sets out to find where he truly belongs in the world. Learning of his divine heritage, the young hero embarks on a mission to regain his immortality by training under the wise (yet grumpy) eyes of Phil the Satyr. As he harnesses his powers and grows into a popular hero amongst the populace, Hercules must come to grips with his destiny in order to defeat Hades and his dastardly plan to unleash the dreaded Titans on Mount Olympus and the world.

“Hercules” revels in its depiction of Greek Mythology and its parody of the Greek epic. While not the most true to the actual story of the famous hero, the film does an incredible job at weaving together a creative story that mixes several tropes of Greek Mythology into one movie. Instead of modeling “The 12 Labors of Hercules”, the movie instead seems to model itself after “Superman”. Hercules is left on Earth to be raised by human parents and learn to use his godlike powers for the common good. This story might seem overdone for some viewers, but the parody of using Greek Mythology to explain the story of Superman is quite brilliant. “Hercules” also makes a mockery of the Greek epic, a style of movie popular in the golden days of Hollywood. Films like “Clash of the Titans” revel in the classic verse and themes of myths that stem from Ancient Greece and the Mediterraenian. Hercules takes scenes where it does revel in such myth, and then proceeds to poke fun at it. For example, when the Fates tell Hades his fortune in conquering Mount Olympus, the Lord of the Underworld voices his disdain at the use of poetry: “Oy, verse”. These little tidbits of humor poke fun at not only the myths themselves, but the whole idea of portraying an epic in the first place. Of course, that’s not the only thing “Hercules” pokes fun at. America’s merchandising craze (which became popular in the 1990s) focused around a cult of popularity is lampooned by Hercules signing autographs and selling sandals called “Air-Hercs”. By reveling in its source material, poking fun at its self awareness, and telling a story that turns a Greek myth into an Americanized superhero tale, “Hercules” weaves a wonderful tale that merges myth and reality into one heartwarming package.   

Like many Disney movies, the characters help define the story and make the film endearing. Hercules is defined by a search to discover his purpose in the world and a quest to become a true hero. While he may be governed by the fact that he is a Superman archetype, he remains a really sympathetic protagonist. This is especially compelling due to Disney’s often dull use of the male lead. Hercules’ drive for adventure is at the very heart of the film, and that sense of adventure and journey truly makes the film an epic. Megara, Hercules’ love interest, plays the role of a “mirrored Delilah” so to speak. She starts the film as a pawn of Hades trying to work off her debt to the Lord of the Underworld. Pushed into a kind of Samson/Delilah dynamic with he hero, Megara learns that she truly does love Hercules for seeing more in her than just her looks. She is spunky, rebellious, and quite her own woman. A joy to watch, Meg’s chemistry with Hercules is absolutely wonderful, and at times outmatches some of the dryer relationships in Disney’s animated canon. Phil the Satyr, voiced by the incredible Danny DeVito, is Hercules’ trainer and advisor. DeVito brings his NYC accent and cantankerous voice to Phil, creating a humorous and endearing “Mickey” to Hercules’ “Rocky”. However, it is Hades who steals the show. Voiced by actor James Woods, Hades seems more like a sleazy insurance agent than the Lord of the Dead. His fast-paced delivery and sarcastic humor equally match his short temper and epic rage. Possibly the best moments in the movie are when he punishes his minions for screwing up. The characters of “Hercules” add to the story’s witty and heartwarming dynamic and add a distinct personality to the film.  

The music of “Hercules” stands out as one of Disney’s most unique and lovable soundtracks. Composed and written by Disney and Broadway veteran Alan Menken, “Hercules” is filled with songs that are fashioned on Broadway showtunes, which are true successors of Ancient Grecian plays and tragedies. “Go The Distance” serves as Hercules’ anthem and the film’s main theme. Hercules is pinning to discover where he belongs, and this song showcases that desire that might be in all of us to discover where we fit in our world. Phil’s song, “One Last Hope”, serves as not only a lively little tune for Danny DeVito, but as a great training montage for Hercules. “I Won’t Say” serves as Megara’s romantic tune that turns the typical love song on its head. Instead of singing about how in love she is, Meg tries the entire song to deny her feelings and hide them from herself. These show tunes are complimented by Menken’s inspired choice to use Gospel singers as the narrators (The Muses) and use gospel inspired songs to help move the plot along. This juxtaposition of using religious music to compliment the mythological feel of the film is brilliant. Songs like “The Gospel Truth”, “A Star is Born”, and fan favorite “Zero to Hero” set a unique and dynamic tone for the film, and round out an incredible soundtrack that still remains one of the most memorable of any Disney animated film. 

Despite not garnering as much acclaim as its predecessors, “Hercules” still stands out as one of the best films to come out of the Disney Renaissance. With a unique and endearing story, lovable characters, and dynamic and unforgettable soundtrack, this film makes its mark in both tone and style. “Hercules” continues to remain a 90’s cult classic among the fanbase today. Of the late Renaissance, it continues to outshine other fantastic movies, including the likes of “Mulan” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. While not as highly acclaimed as the early Renaissance movies, “Hercules” remains one of the standouts of this era of incredible storytelling and has earned itself the position as one of Disney’s classics.