THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE

2000, Walt Disney

Animated

Rating: G

Approx. 78 mins.

THE STORY:

Kuzco (David Spade) is the selfish and intransigent ruler of the Inca. Characteristically, he decides to build himself a holiday home on the exact spot where citizen Pacha (John Goodman) lives with his pregnant wife and 2 kids. Pacha's pleas fall on deaf ears and he heads despondently home to tell his family that they are about to become homeless.

Meanwhile, Kuzco fires his advisor Yzma (Eartha Kitt). Furious, she enlists the help of her dullest-pencil-in-the-box assistant, Kronk (Patrick Warburton), to kill and supplant the emperor. Things go awry, with Kuzco ending up a llama rather than dead. Kronk does not have the heart to kill llama-Kuzco, and instead takes him far into the jungle in the hopes he doesn't return. 

And that is where llama-Kuzco again runs in to Pacha. Kuzco lies and tells Pacha he will cancel his summer home plans if the latter helps him get back to the palace and find an antidote. And so the two start their journey. Soon, they are being pursued by Yzma and Kronk, who has let slip the fact that Kuzco is not dead.

In the end, Kuzco finds his heart, Kronk finds his calling, Pacha and his family find a friend, and Yzma finds herself a disgruntled kitten. 

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• Stupid
• Dumb

VIOLENCE:

• Nothing notable

TEACHING POINTS:

• People can change
• Treat others the way you want to be treated

THE UPSHOT:

Look up one-trick pony in an idiomatic dictionary and chances are you'll find the name David Spade somewhere in the definition. That being said, he does that trick very well. He's perfect as the self-absorbed Emperor Kuzco. All of the casting, in fact, is great. The language, action and themes are all very kid-friendly, and there is enough humour for both kids and parents. Worth a watch. 

4/5