When I was a kid, my parents weren't big movie fans. They never went to the theater, which means a trip was extremely rare for my little brother and I. Our only hope was to visit my aunt when she happened to be going. Until the age of twelve, there were maybe eight visits to the theater, only two being with my mother. Absolutely none with my dad.
One of those was to see Dick Tracy when we were stuck in Arkansas with nothing to do. The other movie we saw together was "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."
It struck quite a chord with me. I'm of the age where the classics were still in heavy rotation and cartoons still ruled Saturday mornings. Tex Avery, Walt Disney, and Chuck Jones were names I saw often. Of course it wasn't until much later that I actually knew two two of them actually were. Everyone knows Disney. Everyone. Of any age.
What kid wouldn't be enamored with a world where the humans coexist with cartoon characters? It also sparked two other life-long loves: Classic Hollywood and the film noir genre.
Admittedly, I didn't fully understand the movie at seven years of age. However, I have seen this one multiple times in the years since, and it seems to have grown up with me. Many of the jokes a child simply don't get. As I aged, this one began to be one of those rare films that offer something for everyone. The old time cartoon schtick keeps kids easily entertained, while the story and jokes are more adult oriented.
This is one of the best "animated" films ever. EVER.
My mom absolutely hated it.
