‘Rugrats’ Will Connect With Underage Crowd
There’s a scene in “The Rugrats Movie” in which the star cartoon characters - the talking, toddling babies led by Tommy Pickles - ride a supercharged wagon into a peaceful patch of forest, scattering an array of lovely animals.
Kids will laugh, unaware of any symbolism. Parents, on the other hand, may react with more of a knowing smile. Part of the scene’s idea is to slyly contrast the style of the “Rugrats” with the traditional approach of animated movies from Disney.
From “Snow White” to “Lion King,” we’ve been able to count on Disney for a certain percentage of bluebirds and lush landscapes. In this case, the jarring arrival of the Rugrat pack represents a declaration and an attitude: Watch out, a different kind of kids’ movie has arrived.
To a big extent, it’s true. This cartoon flick, backed by Paramount Pictures, centers on recognizable family life, just like the hit “Rugrats” series on the Nickelodeon cable television network.
That contrasts sharply with sweeping epic-fantasy-mythological fare such as “Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Hercules” and “Anastasia.” Big chunks of the humor in “The Rugrats Movie” come from events that kids can relate to on a daily basis, and the upshot is a film that fulfills its sweetness obligations while providing some real-life edge.
The plot hinges on Tommy’s discovery of sibling rivalry. Early in the movie, he gets a baby brother: Dylan (“Dil” Pickles). He knew a baby was coming - so did everybody who watches the TV show - but he never imagined how much life would change.
The older babies, including Tommy’s nervous friend Chuckie Finster, generally are very imaginative (as you’ll observe from the opening spoof of Indiana Jones movies). They also engage in fluent conversation, but it’s nothing the parents know about or hear. Nevertheless, Dil’s arrival leaves them all wrecks.
A massive adventure begins when they inadvertently make an amazing trip, with Dil, to a dense forest. The parents, who are playing out a sibling-rivalry subplot between Tommy’s father and uncle, are frantic.
At a preview screening some weeks ago, one loud, assertive child’s voice blasted out when the sound dimmed at the end: “I like that movie,” he said. No question, that will be the typical reaction. The movie starts a little slow, but it’s a fine first effort in what promises to be a string of “Rugrats” films.
“THE RUGRATS MOVIE” Locations: Lincoln Heights, North Division, Spokane Valley Mall, Showboat Credits: Directed by Norton Virgien and Igor Kovalyov, written by David N. Weiss and J. David Stem Running time: 1:27 Rating: G