The Voice-Over Bracket, Round 1 -- Day 7

Just one-quarter of the overall bracket left to get through, which means it’s time for a new blog o’ mine about which picks I’d make in today’s matchups.

Let’s go.

(1) Cliff Edwards, Pinocchio vs. (16) Ben Burtt, WALL-E

Now, listen. We both know, you and I, that I’m voting for Cliff Edwards. Pinocchio is my favorite Disney animated film of all time, and one of my Desert Island/Top 10 movies ever. I’m voting with Jiminy Cricket. Of course I am. I do want to give a shout-out here to Ben Burtt, who I will argue passionately is absolutely giving a great performance in a film not often thought of for its acting. But as much as the animation has to make WALL-E a likable, even lovable, character, so too does Burtt’s vocal and sound design. When I first saw the teaser for this 2008 film, it featured a brief clip of WALL-E saying its own name. I remember being fascinated but a little surprised. It felt risky, but it’s a risk that paid off.

Ben Burtt may not say much in WALL-E outside of a name or two. But the way in which he modulates a robot’s voice is unforgettable. It’s not…quite as unforgettable as Edwards’ quavery singing on “When You Wish Upon a Star” or his huffy attitude when Pinocchio ignores Jiminy’s advice. But it’s good. I don’t want to ignore that.

…But I’m still voting for Cliff.

(8) Holly Hunter, The Incredibles vs. (9) John Goodman, Monsters, Inc.

It’s the Raising Arizona face-off you’ve all been hoping for. (Have you seen that Coen classic? You should if you haven’t.) Kidding aside, this is a really, really, really tough one for me. The first time I watched The Incredibles, I was 20, which I mention here because it means I was largely stupid. I say that because my initial reaction to Helen Parr/Elastigirl was that she was a wet blanket, and I wanted to spend a lot less time with a character so deadset on a superhero not being super. Multiple viewings — and life experience (not with superheroes, of course, and even if it was with superheroes, I wouldn’t tell you) — made it very clear that Hunter’s work as Elastigirl is necessary because she’s playing the smartest adult in the room. And if you’ve seen Broadcast News, you know that can be awful.

John Goodman, on the other hand, is playing a more fun character in the middle of a farcical situation. Goodman makes Sulley’s growth from a blithe athlete to a caring father figure believable, to the point where his infuriated scream when Sulley and Mike realize they’re stranded in the Himalayas is still genuinely unnerving. (Watch the scene again. Listen to the loudest “No!” of them all. It sounds like Goodman nearly broke the sound equipment in the recording booth.) These are both truly excellent performances in two very good Pixar films. I can only pick one, of course, and I’m going…with Goodman. His anguish in that scene is impossible to ignore — it shakes me even now how real his performance feels in such a ridiculous scene.

(5) Susan Egan, Hercules vs. (12) Peter Ustinov, Robin Hood

If there’s anything you may have learned about me during these brackets, it’s that I am not a big fan of Robin Hood, the 1973 Disney film. It’s a major pop-culture totem for a number of folks around my age — which I attribute to VHS and the Disney Channel, since I was born just over a decade after its release. Having said that, I will happily acknowledge that its strongest element is Peter Ustinov as the oily, whiny Prince John. He’s playing this over the top, but that’s the only way to play a character with a hissing snake as his only friend. A good performance in a not-good movie.

However, I have no need to hesitate in voting for Susan Egan. Both in her singing and her speaking, Egan is remarkably capable at throwing you a little off-guard in her line readings. (“See ya, Herc. It’s been a real…slice.") Megara is one of the most multi-dimensional heroines in Disney history, in no small part because Egan’s work is out of this world. It helps that “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” is an excellent piece of music she runs with, but even aside from that song, her work is worth my vote.

(4) Jodi Benson, The Little Mermaid vs. (13) Ginnifer Goodwin, Zootopia

I will be honest: I kind of struggle with this one. Jodi Benson is, of course, wonderful as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. She’s one of many reasons why “Part of Your World” is such a special, singular piece of music. Her performance in the first half of this movie is basically unforgettable. But there, of course, is the rub: the very design of this story is such that Benson doesn’t do that much — aside from a brief moment of singing as Ursula-as-Vanessa — in the last 40 minutes. It’s not her fault, of course. But I wonder if voting for essentially half a performance is enough.

Because here’s the thing: Ginnifer Goodwin is extremely good as Judy Hopps. I still enjoy Zootopia a lot — it’s a clever enough idea for transposing human characteristics on animals, the pacing is zippy, the visuals are incredible, and the story is interesting enough, though I will in no way go to bat for its attempt at making a statement about race relations. Goodwin’s work as Judy Hopps is a little more effective, I think, than that of Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde. And it’s a whole performance.

But. “Part of Your World” is just too good to ignore. I struggle with this one, but the song’s going to put Benson over. She gets my vote. Just barely.