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QUICK PLOT SUMMARY:
Animation - A boy genius and his friends save the world from aliens who have abducted their parents.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G
- The MPAA rated this film G for animated sequences.
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Reviewer's Corner
Nickelodeon Films' Jimmy Neutron lacks the spark
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It's a bit sad to think that a couple of years ago, this could have really been
a breakthrough film. But as an audience continually expecting more from the amazing
animated films that are being released these days, it looks as though we've wised up.
With such strong competition out there like Shrek (2001) or the wonderful
Monsters, Inc. (2001), slick looking but ultimately flat films like Jimmy
Neutron: Boy Genius simply can't hold up. We've come to respect animation too
much in recent days for films to work that look pretty good but lack decent storylines
or sharp, witty dialogue. Those previous two films had looks and clever writing.
Jimmy Neutron is just all brains and no heart.
The film is about young Jimmy Neutron (voiced by Debi Derryberry, voice talent actress
with over a decade of work in animation), the brightest kid in school - or anywhere, for
that matter - whose life revolves around creating nifty gizmos that are supposed to help
him with everyday tasks. Problem is, most of these gadgets work a bit differently than
Jimmy envisions (his rocket pack bounces him off alley walls and a hair styling machine
results in a series of odd looking haircuts). When Jimmy intercepts a signal from deep
space, he makes the mistake of responding - and bringing to Earth some rather nasty looking,
mucas dripping aliens bent on ridding the planet of adults as part of a human sacrifice (with
real humans for a change!, one of them quips). After the adults are abducted, it's
no rules mayhem as the kids take over, thinking their dreams have come true. However, after
grasping the fact that they don't know how to make lunch for themselves, it's time for the kids to fight
back and rescue their departed parents.
Stylistically, the film looks okay - not exactly a ringing endorsement, but this
smooth computer animation just looks downright clunky after seeing the worlds created by
Pixar with Monsters, Inc. or PDI with Shrek. I suppose it's unfair to keep
expecting more from a movie aimed more at the little ones, but I really did keep waiting
to hear some clever dialogue and funny lines - and they just didn't happen. Unlike the
two other films mentioned here, Jimmy Neutron will be a chore for adults to sit through. And
that's not necessarily a bad thing - kids need their own films and shows that are made
just for kids, and who cares if their parents are into them - but it would have been nice
to delve a little deeper into this world that was developed with so much potential.
There are some nods to pop culture (posters hang on walls poking fun at boy bands
and girl pop groups, and a reference is made to The Blair Witch Project (1999)), and
the nifty, gadgety city that had echoes of that early 60's world-of-the-future look was
primed to have some fun with. Unfortunately, it just wasn't capitalized on and served more
as an interesting setting that was sadly only background for a story that just wasn't compelling
enough to hold the film on its own. If Jimmy Neutron flies again someday, here's hoping
he has a little something greater to shoot for.
Reviewed by Jon David Loraditch
What do YOU think? -- January 15, 2002
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WHO SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE:
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- AS A DATE MOVIE
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- Maybe - Perhaps for teen couples it might be okay, but this film is really aimed at the kids.
- CHICK FLICK
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- Maybe - Nothing really here for younger girls to relate to, as Jimmy Neutron is your typical all-American boy into gadgetry and other things that little boys love to be into.
- GUYS MOVIE
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- Probably Okay - As guys, we can all relate to being a kid and wanting to invent stuff or be an astronaut. For those of us that remember this kind of stuff, Jimmy Neutron may be a welcome trip back down memory lane. Others may just find it too empty.
- CHILDREN
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- Great Bet - This movie is made for kids and kids everywhere should love the action sequences and silly humor.
- TEENAGERS
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- Poor Bet - Teens will most likely no respond to the kiddie aspects of this film, but some may appreciate the animation techniques.
- GENERATION X
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- Poor Bet - Unfortunately, most Gen X-ers will probably just see this film as a winter cash cow for the kids, in a season dominated by adult fare. And they're right, it is.
- BABY BOOMERS
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- Poor Bet - Anyone over the age of about 20 will probably find this film agonizing to sit through. The ones who aren't tearing their hair out will probably just be sleeping.
- MATURE AUDIENCES
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- Poor Bet - See Baby Boomers.
- INTELLECTUALS
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- Poor Bet - Well, this is a silly cartoon. First of all, the kids were out in space with no kind of suit on, and the lack of oxygen would just....ahhh, forget it. Have fun with it!
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WHAT PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE THEIR CHILDREN SEE THIS MOVIE:
MOVIE DETAILS:
- VIOLENT ACTS
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- None - Just silly cartoon violence, if you want to consider it violence - Jimmy bounces off alley walls, a robot dog explodes, etc.
- SEX/NUDITY
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- None -
- PROFANITY
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- None -
- TENSE SCENES
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- None -
- IMMORAL/ILLEGAL BEHAVIORS
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- None -
- QUESTIONABLE CONTENT / UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS
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- None -
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- Children's Value Rating
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Kids should love this film, even if their parents are checking their watches the whole time.
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