‘Pocahontas’ Fans Prefer Happy Endings

While critics and box-office analysts are wondering whether “Pocahontas” will live up to its “Disney” predecessors, a certain group of movie experts only want to know one thing.

The film’s most important critics--those under 4-feet tall--want to know why Pocahontas and John Smith couldn’t have lived happily ever after.

“It was great, but I wanted them to be boyfriend and girlfriend,” said Stephanie Lewis, 8, of Anaheim on Saturday.

“I didn’t really understand why he wanted to go back to England,” said Travis Behrendt, 10, from Glendale.

“I liked the ending,” said Erica Thompson, 5, of Brea. “I liked the way Pocahontas ran to the top of the hill. But I would have liked to see her married.”

Many of the children who saw “Pocahontas” at the Cineplex Odeon Theater in Universal City and the Century Cinedome II in Orange on Saturday were disappointed by its ending, in which the hero John Smith sails back to England and leaves his fair Indian maiden in America.

But the kids’ disappointment also gave light to how much they really enjoyed the film as a whole. Their concern for John and Pocahontas’ happiness made it clear they were taken in by the two characters and the story of their relationship. And most of them still did walk away with smiles on their faces, even if the heroes weren’t going to live happily ever after.

“I thought it was soooo funny,” said Kelly Troesch, 6, from Santa Monica, who didn’t seem too concerned about the ending.

“I think I liked it more than ‘The Lion King,’ ” Stephen Conte, 10, of North Hollywood, said.

Most kids wouldn’t go quite that far, but they did say “Pocahontas” was just as enjoyable as the Disney hits “The Lion King” and “Aladdin.”

*

This may come as a surprise to the real experts. “Pocahontas” clearly had a disadvantage compared with other Disney films by opening the weekend after “Batman Forever,” but that’s not the only reason many industry observers were skeptical of its success. Disney went out on a limb with this film, making its first animated feature to deal with a historical story.

Their biggest risk, though, was probably not going with Disney’s usual happily-ever-after finale.

Even adults who saw the film had mixed reactions to its ending.

“The only part I didn’t like was the ending,” said Dolores Medina, 51, of Orange.

“It was kind of a downer,” said Carrie Angelo, 38, of Hollywood. “I guess you expect a happy ending with a Disney movie, even if you already know how the story goes.”

“I liked the ending,” said Steve Thompson, 44, of Brea. “Normally the Disney movies always end with the guy and the girl getting together. I think this was a good change.”

Jackie Voss, 33, of Hollywood, said the movie does have a happy ending, but one that’s not easy for kids to recognize.

“Pocahontas and John Smith don’t end up together, but they still keep their people from fighting a war with each other,” Voss said. “That’s really the happy ending.”

Adults’ reaction overall was as mixed as their views on its ending.

Some said the final scene wasn’t the only problem with the movie. Many also said the music, animation and story were less impressive than past Disney films.

“I really enjoyed the music in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘The Lion King,’ but this one wasn’t quite as good,” said Yolanda Santos, 20, of Van Nuys.

“It was just kind of sad and not as cheerful,” said Ted Komeski, 38, of Hollywood. “And the animation, too, wasn’t bright and full of life like it should be.”

Among the adults who liked “Pocahontas,” many were more impressed with the fact that Disney turned to history and the culture of Native Americans for the film.

There was one critic of the film who had a problem with its history, though. Rachel Woolin, 11, of Orange County, was a bit of a whiz kid on the Pocahontas story.

“I did a report in third grade, and there was really no proof that there was a relationship with Pocahontas and John Smith,” she said. “It’s a nice theory, though.”

Everybody’s an expert.

Free-lance writer Alan Eyerly contributed to this report.