Rugrats in Paris

I sat through this movie with my wife, my two-year-old daughter (on my lap) and my boys (5 and 7 years old). We've been watching Rugrats on TV for some time, and are quite familiar with the characters.

Honestly, this was one of the better movies I've seen this season, bar none. There are ample parodies of other movies (to make the adults laugh-outright), as well as lots of fun for the little ones. The battle between Robo-Reptar and Robo-Snail kept my boys talking excitedly all the way home.

If you are not a fan of the Rugrats, this movie will do little to change that. However, this movie is considerably better than either the first Rugrats movie or any of the individual TV episodes. For once, a movie spawned from a TV series is actually better than the series.

I thought it was a fine movie, suitable for children and adults. If you're like Coco LaBouche, however, you probably won't like it. Too bad for you, then.

Although my kids are rather older than Angelica and her dumb ol' babies, I find I relate to the adult characters, and, as a recently widowed father, particularly to Chaz. The plot of the movie provided stimulation for some meaningful conversations with my 9-year old son that might not have occurred otherwise.

My son loved the film, and pronounced it, on a scale of 1-10, a 20. I loved the movie parodies, as well as the humor that went over my son's head (he was unfamiliar with the phrase "to lose one's lunch" and so missed a rather gross joke ...).

All in all, it seems that, on the heels of their unexpected success with the first feature-length film, someone in the creative team said, "And how much more can we gross if we give this one a *plot*, too?". The result worked MUCH better than the first film.

Can't wait to own a copy.

With lots of fun references to other movies (`Godfather' being the best homage) `Rugrats in Paris' is a good time for all.

The animation in this film is not as flashy as in the first `Rugrats' movie that came out in 1998 but because of that it works all that much better. It is more simplistic, less dark and much more in the vein of the Nickelodeon cartoon series.

It also has a few breakthrough moments: why Chuckie doesn't have a Mom, Chuckie's first word (at least the first word understandable by adults) and actual empathy by Angelica for another person's feelings.

That is why I continue to watch the `Rugrats' both on television and in their movies: unlike so many other cartoon characters they continue to evolve and grow – though I hope they never truly grow up.

In addition to the usual voices used in the Nickelodeon series the addition of Debbie Reynolds, Susan Sarandon, John Lithgow and Casey Kasem make this film version just that much better. Especially Susan Sarandon who plays the scheming ‘Coco LaBouche' – a real star turn if ever there was one.

There are a few scary moments that children of the actual age that the Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil are supposed to be might find to be a little too much but the overall film has a lot of warm, fuzzy moments that, as is the standard for all the ‘Rugrats' productions, teach a good lesson without hitting you over the head with it.

There is pathos, sweetness, redemption, scariness and just the right amount of humour to make this a film that all the family should see.

I went with my 3 daughters and whole family.(husband and inlaws) We all loved it. The music scores was just right, and I thought it was VERY good. Two new characters are introduced. The locales were true to life. The detail was amazing. And after the movie... I had to remind myself that it was made for the kiddies. It's not something that an adult will groan as 'the obligatory movie' for their child that they have to suffer thru as their chaperone. Knowing the characters before-hand is a plus... then you would know/understand what's going on with the characters, because everyone is there at some point. For a kid's cartoon... it was very good. two thumbs up and in perspective, it's for the kids.

I sort of enjoyed the Rugrats movie, but this is better. It is sweeter and funnier, and is consequently very enjoyable. While there are some really sweet moments like Chuckie getting upset(that bit nearly made me cry) and some truly funny parts too, namely the priceless wedding scene at the end and the part when Betty sarcastically says while they are in Notre Dame "If you've seen one church, you've seen them all, wake me if you see a hunchback". The animation is bright and colourful, and the gorgeous Paris setting is used to very good effect. There is also a nice soundtrack and great voice work from Christine Cavanaugh, Tara Strong, Elizabeth Daily and Cheryl Chase. Susan Sarandon was also wonderful as Coco. While well written and funny, plus the Reptar was cool, this film is not a masterpiece, it is too short, and some of the secondary characters needed more development. I loved the references to the Godfather, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Godzilla and King Kong, they were hilarious, and I think adults will find some enjoyment too with the well scripted lines and the frequent references to various film favourites. In conclusion, funny, sweet, colourful and enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox