Matcollis This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Organnall Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

Orla Zuniga It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

SnoopyStyle Humorist Robert Benchley is at home. His wife convinces him to sell the rights for his story 'The Reluctant Dragon' to Walt Disney. She drags him to the studio and leaves him there. He wanders around the studio and discovers the animation process along the way. Finally he meets Walt Disney himself.This starts as a black and white live action fictional drama. The fact that it's not animation made it less than successful originally. However it's fascinating to see where Disney began and what it looked like. It's a studio tour dressed up as a little story. This is terrific as a time capsule and a fun way to see how it was made. This is probably a good movie to show new hires at the time. After 25 minutes, the movie turns into technicolor with some animation. Goofy has a cartoon about how to ride a horse. The final section has the Reluctant Dragon cartoon. This movie has a bit of historical values but as a story, this is rather bland.

TheLittleSongbird While not necessarily a childhood favourite, The Reluctant Dragon is very sweet and engrossing as well as easy to like. The animation is lovely, very colourful and nice to look at, fairly simplistic in its construction but very nice all the same. The music is very pleasant, very playful and sweet. I really liked the characters here, the reluctant dragon himself is very lovable, and I admit I mistook his voice actor for Ed Wynn when I first saw this. And the little boy's voice reminds me of the voice of Pinnocchio in the Disney film of the same name. Sir Gyles, despite not being in it very much, is a good character. The poetry is great too; the script isn't the best in the world, but all the same it is a sweet and thoroughly enjoyable mini-classic. 9/10 Bethany Cox

bob the moo As she reads her husband the story of the reluctant dragon, Mrs Benchley has the idea of selling the idea to Walt Disney to make into a film. Reluctantly Robert Benchley goes to Disney studios to see Walt but tries to delay on the way. As he wanders around the studio he meets various cast and crew behind the Disney films and gets to see some of the techniques that make the film.Although I am not a real fan of Disney films from this period, I decided to give this film a try as the basic plot sounded quite interesting. I'm glad I did as this film is not only quite interesting but also an amusing mix of life action and animation. The basic plot is no more than a tour of the Disney process but done in a rather amusing way as Benchley slips from one room to another in an attempt to evade a very boring tour guide. This element of the film is quite enjoyable; the process is interesting (if not really valid anymore - it's all in Korea isn't it?!) and it is delivered by gentle wit that both kids and adults will like.The 100% animated strands of the film are mixed and will depend whether or not you are a Disney fan or not (I'm not - I prefer Loony Tunes). The Goofy section is very good but the storyboard telling of Baby Weems is pretty poor and the actual story of the Reluctant Dragon is a bit too cute and lacking teeth (if you know what I mean). The bits where Benchley is shown the animation process and the characters come to life are well handled and pretty cool - Daffy gives him a bit of a mouthful and is funny.The people in the film are rather airbrushed but still OK; the women are a bit too polished and wholesome, leaving the better roles for the men. Walt himself is OK and his presence adds to the value of the film, but it is Benchley that makes this such an enjoyable film. He died a few years after making this and he can't have been much more than fifty when he passed. His mocking humour is good and he isn't afraid to clown it up for the cameras.Overall this is a very enjoyable little film. For Disney fans it is almost a must-see as it goes around the basic stages of creating a cartoon within the studio. The animated sections are not as good (to me) and I was left wanting more of Benchley and the unofficial tour rather than the title story, but it was quite enjoyable in a rather fresh and amusing fashion.

bosscain Reluctant Dragon is best viewed in the Disney Treasures Behind the Scenes DVD.this story combined with baby weems and Goofys "how to ride a horse" make this a magical treat for all ages,Timeless Disney classic.The live action scenes of the original voices of Donald Duck and Clara Cluck are a rare joy to see.