Director: Fred Wolf 

Screenplay: Norm Lenzer, Harry Nilsson, and Carole Beers

Minutes:  90

Year: 1972 

Score: 6.40 

Release: MDV Rewind

So tell me, what is The Point anyway? Ha ha, how square of me. I will now completely respect the fact that you might (should probably) click away now.

From MVD:

Directed and animated by Academy Award® Winner** Fred Wolf (Free To Be… You & Me, The Flintstones) with story and songs written by Grammy Award® Winner** Harry Nilsson and narration by Ringo Starr, THE POINT is a timeless enchanting fable for the whole family to enjoy!

Years ago there was a place called The Land of the Point, because everything in The Land of the Point had one – the barns, the houses, the cars, everything – even the people. Everyone, that is, except Oblio (Mike Lookinland, The Brady Bunch), who was born round-headed. Since he had no point, Oblio – along with his trusty dog, Arrow – was banished to the Pointless Forest. Join them to see what wonders await these two intrepid travelers as they make their way on their amazing, song-filled journey of discovery!

The Point! is a very special film, and release. If you are anything like me you might be completely unaware of this film. When I heard Brian Saur chat about it on Pure Cinema Podcast I was of two minds. I love watching classic “out there” animation, and I love the nostalgic electricity that I absorb watching them. But, it sounded a bit more childish than I prefer. I relented, received a copy, spun it up, and gleefully bopped in my chair, start to finish. 

I suppose it is possible that I was so deeply connected with one of my all time favorite records, BLAZING ARROW, by Blackalicous, which samples Me and My Arrow, or it it could be the visual similarity with YELLOW SUBMARINE, or BELLADONNA OF SADNESS. But I was all in. 

The film plays out like a typical Disney education feature with a clear moral theme throughout so that a young audience member will walk out with musical earwigs to keep fresh in their minds. That regardless of how different they may be, or feel, they are merely unique and should not be made to feel excluded. 

I would be interested to know how children, today, enjoy this style of animation. Compared to other modern animation The Point is very crude and I could see people thinking it wasn’t up to snuff. It is, however, a glorious and beautiful film and should earn a prominent place on peoples shelves. This release is stacked, but that is what I have come to expect out of MVD Rewind releases. 

Special Features:

• Brand new 2K High Definition transfer presented in its original aspect ratio.
• Optional English Subtitles
• NEW! ‘The Kid’s Got a Point: An Interview with Mike Lookinland’
• NEW! ‘That Old Guy Wrote The Point’: A Conversation with Screenwriter Norm Lenzer
• NEW! ‘Everybody’s Got a Point: Kiefo Nilsson and Bobby Halvorson on Adapting the Point’
• The Making of The Point: Four part featurette includes: ‘Who Is Harry Nilsson?’ , ‘Pitching The Point’ , ‘Making The Point’ and ‘Legacy of the Point’ (SD, 26:40)
• Collectible Mini-Poster

Director: 6 – Cinematography: 7 –  Edit: 5 – Parity: 1 – Main performance: 7 – Else performance: 5- Score: 10 – Sound: 5 – Story: 9 – Script: 7 – Effects: 7 – Design: 8 – Costumes: 5 – Keeps interest: 9 – Lasting: 5