Rugrats Go Wild

I am 16, and like the Rugrats very much, but I love the Wild Thornberrys. I bought this two days ago, and watched it with low expectations, and boy was it a huge surprise. This was infinitely better than I expected, if not quite as good as anything to do with the Wild Thornberrys or Rugrats. My favourite characters were Spike, Nigel, Angelica and Debbie.

For the first time, we hear Spike talk, and he was brilliantly voiced by Bruce Willis, who put some of his previous films into this, and that was perfectly refreshing. The other voice talents were great, with great voice veterans like Nancy Cartwright, Danielle Harris and Tim Curry.I did notice though that Christine Cavanaugh, I think, was missing. It was a shame though that Curry was reduced to talking childishly for a good bit of the movie, and don't expect too much from the plot.

The humour was also not bad. I don't care whether it was the same as in other movies, because they did it in the other Rugrats outings, don't you remember. I loved the ever-imitated mirror sequence in the waterfall, and when Nigel hits his head and turns into a baby. There is a lot of imagination, as Angelica imagines herself as an island princess, and she is the toddler equivalent to Debbie. And the animation is true to the style of both shows, colourful and crisp, plus the time goes by quickly.

As for the songs, they were the weakest category of the film, but they had so many funny lyrics. The melodies were a bit uninspired, but the lyrics were a lot funnier than the overall script, which I thought had a lot of heart and humour. Plus, we get to hear Bruce Willis sing, which for me was the biggest surprise of the film, because he can actually sing.

In conclusion, a movie that was much better than expected. Kids will love this, and adults MIGHT probably laugh at the funny lyrics of the songs. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Rugrats Go Wild! (AKA Rugrats Meet The Wild Thornberrys Movie) (2003)

Rugrats Go Wild! is a fun movie. This movie was really entertaining, and had many exciting adventures. It was really cool seeing the Rugrats meeting The Wild Thornberrys. Debbie and Anjelica were a perfect duo,a nd the whole movie was just plain fun! I give it a 10/10.

It's still better than the first movie but not as strong as the second. There aren't as many jokes that work and the story isn't as strong either. Thankfully the new characters are still great.

The end credits for "Rugrats Go Wild!" include a section headed "Klasky Csupo Accounting," which unfortunately figures; this third theatrical outing for the Rugrats and second one for the Wild Thornberrys plays more like a marketing exercise than an actual movie.

With this big-screen crossover of two TV shows, you'd think that they'd both get equal time, but due to their show having been more successful and having their full name in the title (it was originally called "Rugrats Meet The Wild Thornberrys" before someone decided that was too obvious), Tommy, Chucky and the rest get more time on screen than the far more appealing Eliza Thornberry and Co; it's not until near the end that they're on anything like equal footing, and by then the movie's been sabotaged by a plot that's too skimpy for words (the Pickles, Finster and DeVille families - plus Susie - get stranded on the same island that the Thornberrys have pitched up on for their latest jaunt, and cue much running around and shrieking), an ounce of actual amusement amongst a ton of shrill and strained gags, too many characters squeezed into too little time, and far too many songs, pop or otherwise (Chrissie Hynde. Why?).

Having Bruce Willis do the voice of Spike doesn't help much, and neither does including some of the most heavy-handed movie references this side of a Leslie Nielsen comedy. In fact, the movie officially becomes a waste of time when their boat capsizes and it turns into a mini-homage to "The Poseidon Adventure," capped by Angelica singing "The Morning After" in her toy karaoke machine. (If only she had been the character played by Stella Stevens.)

But even that's more forgiveable than having Stu say "I can't help feeling partially responsible." Stealing lines from "The Simpsons" is the final insult... Eliza's older sister and Betty DeVille are the only ones to emerge intact. Note to Paramount: ENOUGH ALREADY!

Drew offers to take his family and friends on a paradise cruise and everyone is excited. However when it transpires that his "cruise ship" is a tiny fishing boat nobody is that impressed but go along anyway. A perfect storm sees them cast adrift on an uninhabited island. While the adults come to terms with never making it off the island alive the babies are pumped about the whole thing, with Tommy convinced that he can find his idol, Nigel Thornberry somewhere in the rain forest.

Having found the other two Rugrats movies to be reasonably colourful and fun I decided to give this franchise amalgamation a try despite my low expectations. The film does deliver what you expect though and will be loved by fans of both series. The plot is nonsense of course but it gets the two series together well and provides enough story to keep it going with nary a dull moment. Although it is no Pixar, the film does have a lot more adult references than the first two films put together and they did enough to keep me interested. It also helped that the baby humour is minimised and replaced with just solid family humour.

The animation is colourful and warm and flows really well – not the most imaginative stuff but perfect for a family audience. The regular voice cast are all as good as normal in the forms of Curry, Daily, Cartwright and others. Meanwhile the additions of Bruce Willis and Chrissie Hynde are both amusing. Overall then a solid and enjoyable family film – colourful and amusing and worth a look if you are seeking out something to distract a family audience.