Understanding the well-meaningness of Pocahontas is also key to understanding its flaws.

The studio has made noise about its bid at enlightenment, as witnessed by its casting of Native Americans... Maybe that is one measure of progress, or maybe it's just the most cravenly shrewd retailing strategy in many, many a moon.

Unfortunately, though luscious to look at and painstakingly rendered, Pocahontas is an unusually joyless affair. The adventurous beauty rejects one suitor because he is too "serious," but this movie barely registers on the humor meter.

After the successes of Disney’s previous animated features, this one has a tough time separating itself, despite the drastic shift in period and locations.