Yzma and Kronk in "The Emperor's New Groove."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film an: Stars: Voices of David Spade, Eartha Kitt and John Goodman Director: Mark Dindal Rated: G Length: 79 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(December 15, 2000) -- At a time when the Disney folks are falling all over themselves to promote 102 Dalmatians, they're quietly opening a far more entertaining family film -- The Emperor's New Groove.

It's easily the hippest, happiest and flat-out funniest feature cartoon from the studio since Aladdin, but without the need to rely on the mercurial personality of a wacky Robin Williams.

Mom and Dad will enjoy The Emperor's New Groove as much as their kids. (You don't need to accompany children to have a good time.)

With an idea very loosely adapted from The Emperor's New Clothes, the film tells of a cocky young prince named Kuzco (voice by David Spade), in an ancient Central American kingdom.

Kuzco's not above throwing a minion out a castle window for simply disrupting his "groove," or displacing a village so he can build a mountaintop resort.

A power-hungry court adviser named Yzma (Eartha Kitt) schemes to take the throne and tries to poison him. Instead, the potion merely turns Kuzco into a llama, which then escapes into the jungle.

Eventually, the prince-turned-llama must depend on an amiable but much-abused peasant (John Goodman) to reclaim his identity and his place in the world.

In that journey, of course, he becomes a more sensitive monarch.

But while all that's going on, the screenwriters weave in funny asides and observations, designed to entertain adults raised on Chuck Jones' irreverence and more recently enamored of The Simpsons.

While several films in the recent animation resurgence depend on technology for a richer, more complicated look, Emperor has a lean, impressionistic visual style. This film's impact comes instead from its original story, witty dialogue and some of the best voice performances in recent memory.

The secret to the film's success, in fact, is the way director Mark Dindal and his crew let themselves be influenced by the personalities of the talented voice actors.

Thus, the adolescent emperor is an amusing wise guy (but without a clue), fully in line with the screen persona of comedian Spade. The sweet-natured, rumpled Pach owes much to Goodman, and the conniving court adviser, Yzma, matches our expectations for a character voiced by Kitt.

Nearly stealing the film, though, is Kronk, Yzma's dim-witted hunk of a manservant. He's hilariously voiced by Patrick Warburton, best known as Elaine's on-again, off-again boyfriend, Puddy, on Seinfeld.

Adding to the fun is a catchy, Latin-flavored score by Sting and David Hartley, with songs performed by Sting, Tom Jones and Kitt. (You have to love any musical score that can brings that trio together.)

This Groove is well worth catching.