Pat & Mat (1989 film)

Pat & Mat is a 1989 Czechoslovak-American animated comedy film based on the characters by Lubomír Beneš and Vladimír Jiránek. Produced and directed by Phil Roman and Don Bluth, the film features the voice of Tom Kenny, Jim Cummings, Paul Winchell, Peter Sallis, June Foray, Richard Kind, Jeff Bergman, Joey Lawrence, Ken Sansom, and Kath Soucie.

It was first theatrical feature full-length featuring the handyman duo which after the names were given, the film was given throughout the production as well. 20th Century Fox distributed the film as its company’s first time ever putting the animated Czech film since the movie was created, Electric Pictures soon to be appeared in the opening scene and it’s sequel until it was gone. however the film was doing great as the sequels were going through the improvement, and the production was running until 2005.

Premise
Pat and his grandmother Lucy was moving to the new house with their pet rabbit, but he met his friend named Mat which they solve problems to make people happy. but something is wrong, they have to get their friend’s business back from the bankruptcy to save the day.

Plot
To be added

Cast

 * Tom Kenny as Pat, a handyman who wears a yellow shirt and a blue beret who solves problems after he moved to the new house with his grandmother.
 * Jim Cummings as Mat, a handyman who wears a red shirt and blue & white beanie who is a friend of Pat. he solves problems with the help of his friend, and he usually makes people in town very happy.
 * June Foray as Lucy, Pat’s grandmother who lived in Czechoslovakia who moved to the new house with the rabbit named Cuddles.
 * Paul Winchell as Marek Miler, an owner of the company who is a friend of Pat and Mat.
 * Peter Sallis as Rex Bremé
 * Richard Kind as Karl Mirova
 * Jeff Bergman as Tomáš Eben
 * Joey Lawrence as Vladimir Slonova
 * Ken Sansom as Karel Domova
 * Kath Soucie as Kathy Miler, Marek’s wife.
 * Frank Welker as The Guard Dogs, the antagonist who are the dogs that chased Pat and Mat.
 * Dana Hill as Mrs. Merlot
 * John Hurt as Cuddles, Pat’s pet rabbit.
 * Peter Davison as Mr. Redlová

Development
In 1980s, Phil Roman and Don Bluth gave a green-light to make the animated film about the two handyman since before the names are given in 1989. 20th Century Fox and Patmat Film (which Phil Roman founded the company in later 1989 before the Czech founder established the company in 2001) had their first combination to be featured in 1989, and then the film was finally released in November after being filmed between 1987 to 1988.

Scenes

 * 1) Opening
 * 2) Moving Out
 * 3) Alone
 * 4) The Destruction of the Old Home
 * 5) Lost in the City
 * 6) Meet Pat and Mat
 * 7) The Talk
 * 8) The Journey Begins
 * 9) The Business in Town
 * 10) Vladimir
 * 11) Streetlights in One Night
 * 12) The Bankruptcy is About to Start
 * 13) Winter
 * 14) The Snow
 * 15) Two Friends Return
 * 16) Solving Problems
 * 17) The People in Town
 * 18) Finding Karel
 * 19) In the Dark Forest
 * 20) The Escape
 * 21) Talking to Rex
 * 22) The Most Wanted
 * 23) The Dog Chase
 * 24) Asking to Solve Any Problems
 * 25) The Prague Rampage
 * 26) The Stormy Weather
 * 27) The Resistance in Church
 * 28) The Runaway
 * 29) The Plan
 * 30) Final Chase/The Dogs’ Defeat
 * 31) The Problem is Still Solving
 * 32) Mission Accomplished/Marek is Back in Town
 * 33) Ending

Sequels
The sequel Pat & Mat 2: Traffic Jam was released on March 15, 1992, the cast reprised their role as the director and producer came back for filming from December 2, 1990 to July 31, 1991.

The third film Pat & Mat 3: Adventure in London was released on July 24, 1997 as Phil Roman and Don Bluth return to their work on the production, however the cast also reprised their roles but with the new characters.

The fourth film Pat & Mat: Journey Into Space was released on February 27, 2003 when the same producers and the directors worked on the fourth project in 2001 through 2002, the film was first appeared on 21st century. Toby Bluth joined the team in 2001 as the film was started filming.

The fifth and final installment named Pat & Mat: The Truck Problem was released on February 2005 on the same year as Pooh’s Heffalump Movie being released, it was directed and produced by Phil Roman and Toby Bluth as the development was done in the production.

Television adaptations
The film was adapted into a 2007 TV series which was produced by Paramedia and 20th Century Fox Television, the series was created by Ben Bocquelet for The Amazing World of Gumball. It was premiered on October 18, 2007, and it ended on June 23, 2018. the sequel of the series was called Pat & Mat Solves Problem Again! which was developed by Kaz and Darrell Van Citters, it was produced by Paramedia and Xilam. The shows were both aired on Cartoon Network.

Film remakes
The film was later remade into a 2009 film of same name which is computer animated combined with stop motion by Nick Park, Steve Box, and Marek Beneš at the following with the film Coraline.

In 2021, the film was later adapted into a traditional animated film named Pat & Mat: The Movie, which featured the characters reprising, but with replaced voice actors expect for Tom Kenny and Jim Cummings. It was released on July 30, 2021, and it was received $800.88 million box office.

Releases
The film was released on November 27, 1989 by 20th Century Fox, the film was released on October 22, 1990 in Czech Republic after the fall of Soviet Union. As the result that the 20th Century Fox internationally releases the film also, which Czech Republic releases the film usually. The film was originally scheduled to be released on November 17, 1989, but it was pushed back to November 27 of that year to avoid competitions with Disney’s The Little Mermaid and MGM’s All Dogs Go to Heaven.

Marketing
The teaser trailer was released on April 28, 1989 when the names are given after they were nameless since it was attached to certain films in theaters, the film’s official trailer was released on June 25, 1989 as it was attached to the other films.

The merchandise has puzzles, toys, plush items, and apparels. The video game and book adaptations were given by the company in 1990, as well the coloring books.

Home Media
The film was released on VHS in February 24, 1990 by Family Home Entertainment, somehow it was released on VHS in 2000 by the same company as well. The film was released on DVD along with the two sequels in March 2002, then it was released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 2009 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Tubi puts the film to be appeared on February 10, 2018, it was digitally remastered in widescreen. the film was also in high definition, however the movie was removed in 2020.

In 2022, it was announced that Disney+ released the first five Pat & Mat films on March 23 of that year. it was digitally remastered when 20th Century Studios produced the 2021 remake of the original film, however 2009 film was also streamed on Disney+.

Box Office
Pat & Mat grossed $113.2 million in United States and Canada. And the film also grossed $211 million in other territories which in worldwide.

Reception
The film was given to approval rating of 89% according to Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a grade of “A+” according to critics when the audiences chose the poll. In 1998, the critic reads that “Pat & Mat is just always better than Tom and Jerry: The Movie.” as the film gave it grade “A+” according to Rolling Stone.

in 1990, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert awarded the film thumbs up ratings on their show Siskel & Ebert. however Pat & Mat had a charming slapstick comedy film about two handymen going on the journey, but they’re extremely clumsy when they try to solve problems. Variety gave the good reviews on the film that said “this film is bravely made of the set up based on the stop motion animation series, Pat and Mat discovers that they’re extremely clumsy. then their journey is probably charming for the slapstick film. plus they have characters that are charming and peaceful.” as the reviews was given.