THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE
Starring: David Spade, John Goodman
Directed by: Disney animators
Distributed by: Walt DIsney Pictures

Date: 12/17/2000
By: Rice

    I was lucky enough to catch Disney's new animated flick, The Emperor's New Groove yesterday night. Whenever you think Disney and movie, you think sappy love story with an acclaimed vocalist like Elton John or Phil Collins providing the bulk of the soundtrack. This movie, however, looks like it came straight out of the WB's Loony Toons bin.

These guys have good chemistry.

    I dug up a little history on The Emperor's New Groove a while ago. Disney originally intended it to follow the aforementioned formula, with Sting at the musical helm. The idea didn't quite pan out, or some guy above in management decided variation is good for the soul, so it got axed. Sting got pretty upset, cuz he spent a long time writing those love ballads and it ain't even gonna be used! To make a long story short, the animators went back to work with a blank slate and came up with TENG. Disney then pacified the former Police member by adding one of his unused songs onto the soundtrack as a bonus.

    The Emperor's New Groove is one of those rare pictures that every generation will enjoy. It's got the traditional Three Stooges slapstick humor (old folks) in quirky Loony Toons fashion (kiddies) tied together by some of the smartest dialogue ever for a cartoon (everyone inbetween). David Spade's voicing of Emperor Kuzco was annoying at first, but he settled into a nice "groove" and delivered his lines with sharp timeliness. Kudos to Disney for hiring top tier comedians like Spade and John Goodman for the dubbing. I'm rubbing my hands in anticipation for the day Jerry Seinfeld collaberates with a major studio to voice a cartoon character.

Whoever voices this big fella' is freaking hilarious.

    What does that translate into? Simple. It's the best holiday movie that's been released so far for the family. Several scenes near the end had me alternatingly gripping the chair in suspense and slapping my knees in laughter. Plus, it doesn't have the mushy mushy ending that plagues Disney films either, all the while teaching a nice moral lesson. If you have younger cousins or something coming over for the holidays, do them and yourself a favor and go watch The Emperor's New Groove.

A Llama and a peasant. Not your typical Disney cartoon.

Grade: A
-- Best family movie I've seen in a long time.

Babe-o-meter: N/A
-- Oh please...