Little Giants (Promo)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

John Debney was for a long time stuck in the same genre, and frankly he still is. Hocus Pocus in '93 or Cats & Dogs in 2001 practically shows what I mean. It isn't that he's bad at it because the countless efforts can prove you otherwise, but the thing is that we score fans want more of the bombast and less of the kiddy stuff we expect to find with Disney efforts. But in another way is Little Giants the good and the bad all in one. The bad thing is, it remains a child effort with the comical marches or high pitched tones we have come to expect with these efforts. Yet, the good thing is that Debney also stretches the limits with heroic, powerful and excellent fanfares and that is truly too good to miss for the fans. It isn't all Cutthroat Island like but they remain fun and the overall listening experience shines more because of it. In a way this score beats efforts like Inspector Gadget and Hocus Pocus because they don't have that broad orchestral color that Little Giants has. So people who like what Debney does in either style and can get their hands on the promo, bootleg or whatever you call it should not hesitate, because with luck you have at least 15 minutes that can make your day or at least the following hours seem like a pleasant and fun memory.

First of all, besides the great orchestral heroism, we also have the marches and waltzes which show up more than we sometimes want. Waltzes like in 'Pep Talk to Victory' or marches like in 'Little Giants Main Theme', either way you hate or love them a bit. That march like main theme or style shows its face more then once so don't start hating it at once, truth, it is acceptable and even at times fun. Also, people that loved the rushed airport chases of John Williams' Home Alone will feel good when they hear the obvious temp results of Debney in various moments like 'The Go-Cart Chase' or 'The 1st Practice'. And do not ignore the Patton patriotism neatly transformed with flutes in 'Madden and the Big Boys Arrive', which has great music from start to finish. So, if people want more of that with a heroic touch and too much fanfares to count, then wise choices would have to be the tracks 'Choosing Sides' (end at least), 'Becky goes In' and the two most enjoyable tracks of all 'Little Giants on Fire' and 'The Big Win'. People not enjoying these two babies will not find Little Giants the listen they thought it would be. Because the first has a bit of Cutthroat Island in its heroism and the last is a great mix of themes and fanfares, bound to please those simply wanting that part of the music. In these parts the memories of sport / family movies like D3: The Mighty Ducks comes to mind but also the powerful music of Liar Liar and my mind keeps sending me the names of White Fang 2 and Cutthroat Island. Don't think you get neither of them, but still its nice to have my mind keep mentioning that.

In any case, Little Giants is an enjoyable score because it ends the way I like it and the way I wished it would end. It might not be the movie to rent because frankly it looks stupid. But the music is way too good and way too bombastic to deserve such a movie. Why does John Debney (besides having a blast) keeps committing his heart and energy to these kind of movies? We all know that a different genre does wonders for giving the directors a different view of what you are capable off but too much is neither of the good thing. I hope scores like Cutthroat Island and The Scorpion King can lead on because there John Debney surely beats all the other composers, but Little Giants still holds that touch and that is good for the score fans that want more of it. It isn't another Gadget or Pocus, it hell isn't a next Cutthroat Island but keep thinking of the orchestral energy of Liar Liar and the adventurous glance of White Fang 2 and you will hit the result nicely in the bulls eye. Frankly, John Debney also hit the bulls eye with this enjoyable effort because it shows that even family films can become better when you add an orchestral voice to it. Little Giants is the example of a score that feels big and good all the time through it.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Little Giants Main Theme (1.01)

2. Choosing Sides (3.58)

3. The Tryouts (1.36)

4. Not Chosen (1.56)

5. The Go-Cart Chase (2.58)

6. Forming Their Own Team (2.54)

7. Becky And Junior (2.49)

8. The 1st Practice (1.37)

9. Learning The Plays (1.37)

10. Becky's Dream / Team Montage (3.27)

11. The Race For Spike (1.59)

12. Madden And The Big Boys Arrive (3.34)

13. Training Montage (1.05)

14. Spike Appears (1.01)

15. Jake's March (1.31)

16. Pep Talk To Victory (2.50)

17. Second Half Kickoff (2.47)

18. Jake's Run For Glory (1.22)

19. Spike Gets Junior (0.31)

20. Becky Goes In (4.47)

21. Little Giants On Fire (4.06)

22. The Big Win (4.30)

Total Length: 54.08

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: John Debney ===