I was so looking forward to this movie and don't want to go so far as saying I was disappointed. I thought this was a decent effort because it captured the essence of the original program but not much of its charm.
The characters of Dr. Drakken and Shego were portrayed fairly well. The actors came close to imitating the original voice artists, especially Drakken's maniacal laughter. Shego's sarcastic comebacks were there, too, but could have been utilized more often. Ron was okay and did come across as the clumsy nerdy sidekick, as he should have.
I thought Kim was a little too vulnerable in this movie. In the original series, she had her moments of self-doubt, but never to the point of a near-total meltdown lack of confidence. Also lacking was the interaction among Kim's immediate family. There was no loving exchange between the parents and no rivalry between Kim and her younger twin brothers (the "Tweebs"). In fact, her dad's and brothers' appearances were not much more than cameos.
Special effects were on par for a made-for-TV film. Some of the fight scenes were awkward with Kim's flying kicks and back-flips appearing a little too contrived. I don't fault the effects department because they did the best they could translating a cartoon into live action. There are just certain physical movements that are impossible to replicate in real life.
Original creators Mark McCorkle and Robert Schooley were back as executive producers, and I believe this is what saved the film. Had it been in the hands of someone else, it could have been a complete flop. The plot was left open-ended, so who knows if we will see a sequel, or better yet, a revival of the animated series. I am hoping for the latter.
