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QUICK PLOT SUMMARY:
Comedy/Animation - An emperor is turned into a llama and loses his throne as a result.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G
- The MPAA rated this film G and is considered suitable for all audiences.
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FAST FACTS:
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| Release Date | .... December 15, 2000 |
| Running Time | .... Aprox. 90 Minutes |
| Genre | .... Comedy/Animation |
| Director | .... Mark Dindal |
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WHO SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE:
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- AS A DATE MOVIE
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- Good Bet - Light-hearted fun for daters of all ages! No real romance to move couples into the hugging stages, but definitely enough feel-good energy to promote some giggling and hand-holding.
- CHICK FLICK
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- Probably OK - Mom will be happy to know this one will keep the kids entertained while providing some much needed laughs for her as well. The gals in general have far better fare to pick from for chick flick night, though, with Mel Gibson, Nicholas Cage, and the like gracing the big screen this season.
- GUYS MOVIE
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- Maybe - Grown men who don't mind admitting they enjoy Disney movies will be glad they caught the latest animated musical adventure. David Spade and John Goodman are both faves with the guys. Of course, the story has a universal theme of goodness prevailing over being bad, which some men are just too cool to appreciate in front of other guys. Men who aren't afraid of cartoon movies will laugh at Emperor's New Groove.
- CHILDREN
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- Great Bet - Wonderful tale for the kids 4 and up to enjoy. The little ones will love the lively characters and music, while the older kids will get the basic message without too much trouble.
- TEENAGERS
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- Great Bet - Teens like sarcastic David Spade, and can use that as their excuse to see this film, which they have probably told all their friends they did NOT want to see. Fun campy story that offers some basic moral topics for post-film discussion with teachers or parents. Parents might have trouble getting the oldest teens interested in seeing the film.
- GENERATION X
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- Good Bet - Gen Xers who have been collecting the Disney films as they come out on video will definitely want to add this one to their collection when it is released. Many are saying this is the first Disney animated feature in years that makes good use of that tired formula where bad guy sees the error of his ways after being taken down a notch or two and eventually makes right with the world.
- BABY BOOMERS
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- Good Bet - Soundtrack by Sting, some funny one-liners from David Spade, and wonderful Eartha Kitt make this Disney caper one that Boomers can enjoy with the entire family.
- MATURE AUDIENCES
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- Good Bet - Count on Grandma loving Emperor's New Groove, in spite of the fact that she will think that mouthy little llama should have to sit in the corner for his behavior!
- INTELLECTUALS
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- Good Bet - Even the clever bunch will find this romp as good as the older Disney classics such as Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast and as well crafted as the newer Disney films such as Mulan and Lion King. Eartha Kitt's Yzma is an even more fun villainess than Glenn Close's Cruella DeVil from 102 Dalmatians.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE THEIR CHILDREN SEE THIS MOVIE:
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MOVIE DETAILS:
- VIOLENT ACTS
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- Some - The type of violence found in this film is typical cartoon violence where characters can knock each other around, fall from great heights and get ran over by very large things and still walk away unscathed. One character hits another with a frying pan to make a point. One character jumps on top of another in an effort to get a precious vial, knocking both heads into the wall. One character gets paddled by children when she is suddenly part of a birthday pinata. Some characters carry knives, clubs and spears but don't ever really use them. There's more, but all is played for laughs and is pretty mild.
- SEX/NUDITY
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- Little - A married woman is pregnant and has two other children; a stranger gives one character the thumbs up sign when he thinks the llama he is with is a woman (the llama is dressed like a woman and hangs out from behind, which is what prompts the stranger's approval); a man must perform CPR on a llama, who sits up and acts as if the man tried to kiss him; a woman starts to hike her dress up over her knee and the two men watching act as if they should prepare to be disgusted (as if she was going to show them skin), but she only reveals a knife.
- PROFANITY
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- None -
- TENSE SCENES
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- Little - A scary jungle with some hungry jaguars; an unavoidable spill down a giant waterfall; the crossing of a broken-down suspension bridge; a scorpions nest; a bat cave; a tight jam into a ravine between two rocks.
- IMMORAL/ILLEGAL BEHAVIORS
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- Some - Arrogance; selfishness; greed; rudeness; displacing families for personal gain; conspiracy and intent to murder; attempted murder; lying; cheating; stealing; characters drink an unknown beverage; blackmail; assuming a political position of power without anyone's permission.
- QUESTIONABLE SCENES
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- Little - Some might be grossed out by the baked beetles that two characters are served for dinner, one digs into the steaming belly of the insect while the other gets nauseaus at the sight.
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OVERALL RATINGS:
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- Entertainment Rating
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The Emperor's New Groove kept me entertained, made me laugh, and was basically short and sweet. I was not happy to have to go see this film without my eleven year old son, since he is usually the one who helps me decide if a kid movie hits the mark. I must admit I did enjoyed the Disney film a great deal, all by myself, without my little guy's help.
The basic premise is as old as the hills when it comes to Disney. Bad guy is put in a bad spot and must humble himself before he can get out of his jam, hence learning something morally valuable along the way. In Emperor's New Groove, the head honcho Kuzco isn't the sweetest ruler. He plans to destroy a community of hillside homes for his new palace summer retreat, regardless of the families he would displace. Vain and pompous, it is not surprising that Kuzco gets the wrong person riled up. Consequently, the snide Emperor is turned into a llama after firing his loyal administrator Yzma. She wants to kill him, but her Fabio-like helper Kronk (who is missing a couple screws, but is absolutely endearing nonetheless) grabs the wrong elixer, and doesn't have the heart to finish the little llama off. Yzma sends Kronk off to kill the llama, and when he comes back llama-less, she assumes the Emperor is dead at last.
Meanwhile, Kuzco is actually trying to get back to the palace to figure out just why he is a llama. He meets up with the peasant Pacha, . Pacha knows the way back to the palace, but isn't willing to help Kuzco until he changes his mind about where he builds his retreat.
Ok, thats' all fine and dandy, but you know I can't let this film go without one little moment on my soapbox...
What I did object to was the moralistic presentation of some pretty sketchy behavior.
Why did Kuzco really change his mind about his summer retreat? Was it because he suddenly saw how his decision would hurt a great many people, and that was something he wouldn't want to do? No. In fact he betrays Pacha early on to prove this point. Basically it is only when he is backed into a corner that he actually considers doing something for someone other than himself. It isn't the pleasure of doing a good deed. It isn't because he suddenly sees the error of his ways. It is because he is stuck, and has no other choice, when he realizes everyone he thought he could trust was actually out to get him. That is when he finally does the turn around into instant Mr. Nice Guy. Not really the way I want to teach my kids about being a good person for the sake of being good.
In a way, Disney's latest caper teaches our kids the valuable lesson of blackmail. If I have something you need, I can hold it over your head to get something I need. Hmm...yet because the thing you need is immoral and the thing that I need is a little more moral I get to win because my wrong doing is cancelled out by your bigger wrong doing. Ok so I hope I didn't lose you there... Agh! Does that really teach our kids something valuable? Sure, some houses on the hill were spared. But what about the houses on the hill next to it where the Emperor finally does build? No one talks about those families who were put out. They weren't part of the story, so I guess they don't matter. I guess it is safe to assume that Pacha was not really a humanitarian, as much as just a guy looking out for his own. Another great lesson for our kids. I can almost hear it now, "Mommy, if you want the television remote you are gonna have to give me a cookie first!" Thanks Disney. It is nice that they get the gist about what karma can do to those who treat others poorly. Kuzco does get his come-uppance, and the lesson there is a valuable one to children getting a handle on their social graces. Ultimately, don't look for this film to be any kind of voice of conscience.
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- Children's Value Rating
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Kids will love this new Disney film! The perfect length for even the anciest of tykes, they will be mesmerized by lots of funny action and great music.
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Reviewed by C.A. Batchelor
What do YOU think? -- December 28, 2000
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