Hey, hey, I'm back! Who knows for how long. Too much of me is too much of a good thing in my opinion...
Hey, hey, I'm back! Who knows for how long. Too much of me is too much of a good thing in my opinion. And that's what it's all about - opinions!
Member since:02.08.2000
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As most parent with small children will know, Rugrats is a gem of a TV show; a cartoon that appeals to mum and dad as much as the children. It is intelligently written and always includes a few jokes just for the grown-ups without being suggestive. The first film, imaginatively entitled "Rugrats: The Movie", was a bit of a disappointment. After a hugely entertaining and very funny first fifteen minutes it degenerated into a plotless runaround that only young children could like - and it ignored one of the best ‘villains’ in the series: Angelica. I’m glad to report that the inevitable sequel is more in the tradition of the best TV episodes.
For those of you unfamiliar with the format, the "rugrats" are the young children whose parent all live in the same neighbourhood. This movie actually clarifies some points for me, like the ages that the children are supposed to be. Chuckie is stated as being almost 2, and can’t quite ‘talk’ yet. This, of course, is referring to adult talk, because the kids can communicate with each other just fine - we hear what they say in babyish type voices that the adults can’t understand. Chuckie Finster has only a father, and is a shy and cautious kid. He’s the one with the wild, red hair and glasses. His best-friend, Tommy Pickles, is much more adventurous and prone to having adventures. He’s a bit younger and still
wears a nappy - or "dipey" as they refer to them! Tommy’s baby brother, Dil, was introduced in the first movie, and is obsessed with his ‘binky’ (dummy!)
Phil and Lil are the twins, inseparable and constantly bickering, they are usually to be found with Chuckie and Tommy. They are typical kids of this age, fascinated with all bodily functions and by-products! Angelica is slightly older and able to have limited conversation with adults. She has a ‘power-Mom’ and always abuses her older status to be mean to the others - just like real life! Her favourite things are her doll, Cynthia, and cookies!
You know you’re going to love this movie when the titles "Rugrats in Paris - The Movie", morph into a pastiche of the titles for "The Godfather - Part II"! It turns out that Angelica has managed to catch a bit of an adult film when unsupervised but her parents are sure it won’t affect her! Angelica has set herself up as "The Bobfather". This mis-stating of familiar words and phrases from the adult world is quite funny, although probably overused. She mumbles a la Marlon Brando and the dialogue is a direct rip-off! Many of the phrases will be familiar to you from that movie and I won’t spoil your enjoyment by giving them away here.
Angelica has convinced the younger kids that she can grant their wishes, as long as they remain in her "good flavour". She plants a wooden toy horse’s head in Phil and Lil’s cot as a warning not to wipe bogies on Cynthia! "So that’s where I left ‘em," ponders Phil! The movie takes a more serious turn when Chuckie asks her for a new mommy. This is where the movie really takes off and flies. To some, it may be too sentimental, but I felt really moved at Chuckie’s desire to have someone to look after him and hold him when he’s scared and read him stories at bedtime. And hey, they weren’t tears - I just had some popcorn stuck up my nose - honest!
Opportunities arise when Tommy and Dil’s daddy, Stu, who is an inventor, has to travel to Paris, France, to fix the giant Reptar robot that he designed for the theme-park, Euro-Reptar. Hmm, what does that remind me of? Misunderstanding, and thinking that he and his family and friends are being flown over as a reward for his good work, the families all get packed up and fly off to Paris. Even the dog, Spike!
What follows is a wonderful farce. The woman who runs the Reptarland amusement park, Coco LaBouche, hates children, but has to marry into an instant family to give her a chance of taking over the corporation from her boss, a big family man. Angelica uses her devious charms to alert Coco to Chuckie’s dad, Chas, as a prime candidate.
Chuckie, however, has set his heart on the Princess from the Reptar musical that plays in the theme park. Reptar is a giant Godzilla-like dinosaur, complete with his own toy range. In the musical, the Princess is the one who is not scared off the monster, seeing the gentleness in the lonely creature. Stu has invented the giant robot that can be controlled from inside the giant head by anyone who wears the control headset and gloves; the robot mimicking the moves of the wearer.
Meanwhile, Kira, herself a single mother with a young girl, Kimi, has to help her boss, Coco, convince Chas that they are a perfect match, but it becomes obvious that there is another woman who cares more for Chuckie and his dad. Can Chuckie overcome his fears and prevent his dad from marrying the wrong woman? Can toddlers destroy half of Paris while piloting a huge robot towards Notre Dame and fighting off Robosnail?
You can probably guess most of what’s going to happen in this movie, but the enjoyment is in sitting back and watching it unfold. The funny lines are scattered throughout the movie and the emotional impact is heart-warming. The climax is a wonderful piece of cartoonism, as all logic is discarded to allow the kids to pretty much do what they want. This is another running theme of the series; whenever left unattended they manage to wander off on their own and have grand adventures. Although their parents love them, they never seem to watch over them, giving them every opportunity to get into mischief. In real life this would border on neglect, but it is a necessary part of the plot! (Who knows - maybe our own kids get up to all sorts of these things when we’re not looking! I know some kids that do, and they usually sit right next to me, at the cinema, on the bus...)
The music is better than in most animated movies. Rather than make a big event of any song, they are either integrated into the plot, as per the Karaoke Sushi bar Sumo wrestlers (!), and the mock-opera stylee of the Reptar musical, or used as incidental music like in live action films, the snippets of songs never intruding. (And some of the lyrics are VERY funny!)
This is a big, fun, enjoyable movie that both kids and adults can enjoy. It doesn’t go on too long and you’ll come out of the cinema with a contented smile - just remember to take a couple of hankies - for the ladies!
It doesn’t quite transcend the genre like the Toy Story movies, but it’s definitely the next best thing. If you don’t have kids, borrow them, so that you can go see it.
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Cool op! I love the cartoon so might well save my pennies and go see this!! Sounds funny! Kez
clanmac4 14.05.2001 23:00
I had heard that it was not a patch on the TV series, but if you recommend it, I cannot argue. Dave
drusilla 13.05.2001 14:59
A very detailed opinion. I'm always wary about sequels, but this does sound all right. I've always liked the Rugrats TV progs anyway - Angelica's the coolest! Thanks - Dru
The second theatrical film from the popular television show,Rugrats in Parisis better than ... more
the original surprise hit,The Rugrats Movie. Instead of delving into their rich fantasy life, the Rugrats gang goes on a real adventure when their families visit...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The second theatrical film from the popular television show,Rugrats in Parisis better than ... more
the original surprise hit,The Rugrats Movie. Instead of delving into their rich fantasy life, the Rugrats gang goes on a real adventure when their families visit...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: wonderfully told story that'll be a gem on video Disadvantages: woefully short on screen, and still has that "TV" feel of an episode.. you can just hear the tie ins coming...
Advantages: wonderfully told story that'll be a gem on video Disadvantages: woefully short on screen, and still has that "TV" feel of an episode.. you can just hear the tie ins coming...
![Rugrats In Paris - The Movie [2001] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78524303.jpg "Rugrats In Paris - The Movie [2001] [DVD]")
May 12th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
