One of the best parts about this film is how they cleverly fit the film for kids but did so in such a way that adults would like the changes they made. Towards the beginning of the movie Hercules goes into town with his father (not Zeus, but his mortal father). Hercules is told to stay by the cart while his father does some business. He does not listen and instead goes and tries to play with some boys about his age, as a result he accidentally destroys the whole market place. He tried to catch a discus but ends up hurling himself into a pillar. He tries to save the falling pillar but ends up knocking over two more. Those pillars push over the rest of the pillars, in a domino-like fashion, destroying the whole marketplace. This is a kid friendly way of showing us that Hercules was a very destructive person, but a lot of the time it wasn't his fault. In the real myth, Hera takes over his mind or makes him somehow do the horrible things he does. Instead of killing his whole family, which is what happened in the real myth, he destroys a marketplace without harming anyone. This is much more kid friendly. In addition adults can recognize Disney's efforts to match the myth and enjoy the playful spin Disney put on the tale.
Another aspect of the film that adults enjoy is that is doesn't follow the normal epic movie theme. It dares to stray from the norm by having a gospel choir instead of the bland old orchestra. It also doesn't build up the entire movie for a two-minute battle scene. Rather, it has small battles along the way to make the whole movie pretty action packed and exciting. The film also tells a great story in ninety-three minutes instead of the usual three and a half hours. Adults have been watching epic movies their whole life and the same things always happen. It's nice to see a new fun spin put on the old epic movie style. This film really is great for adults too; it's not one of those movies where parents go with their kids and daydream the whole time.
Furthermore, this film provides great humor for adults that younger audiences wouldn't understand. One scene where this is shown is when Hades goes up to Mt. Olympus to congratulate Zeus on his new child (Hercules). Hades says "I haven't seen this much love in a room since Narcissus discovered himself!" Kids wouldn't understand this joke because most do not have a good background of Greek Mythology and most kids do not know what the word "narcissist" means. This joke was obviously aimed at the adult audience.
A joke that goes on pretty much the whole movie is that Phil is a huge pervert. When we first meet Phil he is hiding in a bush looking at some nymphs cleaning themselves. He is also bleating as if he was really enjoying himself watching those nymphs wash themselves. Another time is when Hercules is fighting Nessus and Phil finds it appropriate to hop onto Meg's lap and make kissing gestures towards her. Meg of course smacks him off her lap. She gets back at him later by saying "You know how men are: they think 'no' means 'yes,' and 'get lost' means 'take me I'm yours.' Don't worry, shorty here can explain it to you." Another instance of him showing us how perverted he is occurs when Hercules is getting attacked by a group of female fans begging for his affection. Phil tells Hercules to do plan "Beta" where Hercules quickly gets away and Phil tells the girls that Hercules ran out the door. Phil lets all the girls out the door then proceeds to chance them with his tongue hanging out. All these jokes are meant for the adult audience so that they would enjoy watching the movie with their kids.
Another small joke that is aimed for adults but can be understood by most audiences is when Hercules accidently knocks off both arms of one of his statues in his garden. He's trying to act casual so that he can impress Meg. He skips a stone in his fountain and makes both the arms on the statue fall off. Its good for kids and teens because most people recognize the ancient style of people sculpting statues without arms. Its better for adults because it's not any normal statue its the Venus de Milo. Adult are able to recognize this and get a good laugh out of it.
Another aspect of the film that adults enjoy is that is doesn't follow the normal epic movie theme. It dares to stray from the norm by having a gospel choir instead of the bland old orchestra. It also doesn't build up the entire movie for a two-minute battle scene. Rather, it has small battles along the way to make the whole movie pretty action packed and exciting. The film also tells a great story in ninety-three minutes instead of the usual three and a half hours. Adults have been watching epic movies their whole life and the same things always happen. It's nice to see a new fun spin put on the old epic movie style. This film really is great for adults too; it's not one of those movies where parents go with their kids and daydream the whole time.
Furthermore, this film provides great humor for adults that younger audiences wouldn't understand. One scene where this is shown is when Hades goes up to Mt. Olympus to congratulate Zeus on his new child (Hercules). Hades says "I haven't seen this much love in a room since Narcissus discovered himself!" Kids wouldn't understand this joke because most do not have a good background of Greek Mythology and most kids do not know what the word "narcissist" means. This joke was obviously aimed at the adult audience.
A joke that goes on pretty much the whole movie is that Phil is a huge pervert. When we first meet Phil he is hiding in a bush looking at some nymphs cleaning themselves. He is also bleating as if he was really enjoying himself watching those nymphs wash themselves. Another time is when Hercules is fighting Nessus and Phil finds it appropriate to hop onto Meg's lap and make kissing gestures towards her. Meg of course smacks him off her lap. She gets back at him later by saying "You know how men are: they think 'no' means 'yes,' and 'get lost' means 'take me I'm yours.' Don't worry, shorty here can explain it to you." Another instance of him showing us how perverted he is occurs when Hercules is getting attacked by a group of female fans begging for his affection. Phil tells Hercules to do plan "Beta" where Hercules quickly gets away and Phil tells the girls that Hercules ran out the door. Phil lets all the girls out the door then proceeds to chance them with his tongue hanging out. All these jokes are meant for the adult audience so that they would enjoy watching the movie with their kids.
Another small joke that is aimed for adults but can be understood by most audiences is when Hercules accidently knocks off both arms of one of his statues in his garden. He's trying to act casual so that he can impress Meg. He skips a stone in his fountain and makes both the arms on the statue fall off. Its good for kids and teens because most people recognize the ancient style of people sculpting statues without arms. Its better for adults because it's not any normal statue its the Venus de Milo. Adult are able to recognize this and get a good laugh out of it.