|
| Foocha! is a non-profit Web site. We do it for kicks, not for cash. If you're interested in writing for the site, click here |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
| Movies,
Matt Fresco,
02:00:00,
05 April 2001 |
Rating: F4
|
|
| |
| |
|
Its time to get Groovy! The Emperor's New Groove is another smash hit from Disney that will make you and your kids laugh despite yourself and despite its numerous shortcomings. It's funny, irreverent and, well, groovy.
The Emperor's New Groove was originally intended to be another one of those 'adventure epics', complete with talking animals and those sickly sweet musical numbers. But the Disney top brass took a look at Kingdom of the Sun (the original title), and they were not happy with the film. The rumor goes that it was felt 'Kingdom' would not stand up well alongside their other classics. Perhaps, Disney executives did not have to sit through Pocahontas and Hunchback of Notre Dame. Thankfully, they scrapped huge portions of the project and decided to go with a straight slapstick comedy.
The result is a mixed blessing. It owes more to Aladdin than it does to the Lion King. The comedy is repetitive and tugs at your popcorn pleading for a laugh. But after half an hour it is hard to resist Disney's wide-eyed animation and endearing humor. So your heart melts and the laughs start to come thick and fast. This is a knowing film. It knows that it is not original, it knows it has to step carefully to avoid the enormous plot holes and it knows a good gag is not as good as a bucket load of poor ones laid on thick and fast. The cast play true to type, Eartha Kitt plays Yzma, the same cat she's played for the last 40 odd years. David Spade plays the cocky charismatic character that brought him to prominence in Saturday Night Live. But Patrick Warburton's nice but dim henchman, Kronk, steals the show. He gets all the best lines, but Warburton simply plays the character of Putty from Seinfeld but adds a sarcastic weariness to the role that is disarmingly funny.
When George Lucas made Howard the Duck he risked everything on the idea that we would all love a good duck gag. He was wrong. Ducks just ain't funny and nor are llamas. It's the situations the animal gets into that we have to empathize with. Being a duck or for that matter a pot bellied pig is not enough, we need to recognize ourselves in the character. Here the central gag is that Eartha Kitt who is covetous of his power and position turns Prince Kuzco into a llama. Disney doesn't attempt a single llama gag. Lets face it how many gags are there with a llama walking into a bar? Instead we have a morality tale that every parent and child will recognize easily. Thankfully the moral is not rammed home so the selfish prince is never entirely redeemed. Here the pratfall rules and the poo-poo piety takes a backseat.
You have to pity poor Sting. By all accounts he leaped at the chance to make a Disney movie. After all, Elton John and Phil Collins cruised into the Oscars on the back of similar projects. This should have been his crowning moment. Geordie lad makes good, a knighthood within his grasp. But the poor lad recorded all the songs only to find that only one made it into the movie and that is safely tucked away right at the end with the final credits. Phew - Disney executives have created a lucky escape for us all.
UK rating:
U
US rating:
PG
Dir : Mark Dindal
David Spade, Eartha Kitt
Top Home |
|
|
|
|
