Rugrats in Paris

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.