Today’s quick review: The Emperor’s New Groove. Kuzco (David Spade), the vain, spoiled prince of a South American empire, has it all. But when his chief advisor Yzma (Eartha Kitt) and her right-hand man Kronk (Patrick Warburton) turn him into a llama in an attempt to claim the throne, Kuzco is left on his own. His only ally is Pacha (John Goodman), a kindly peasant Kuzco had previously thought beneath him. To make it back to the palace and return to his human form, Kuzco must first earn the good will of the man he scorned.
The Emperor’s New Groove is an animated family comedy from Disney featuring great voice acting, cartoonish humor, and a nice moral about selfishness. The characters are excellent: simple, entertaining, and brought to life by talented voice actors. The animation is lively and colorful. The premise is fun, the writing is seasoned with jokes, and the story is topped off with a couple of nice emotional moments.
But for all its virtues, The Emperor’s New Groove lacks some of the quality of other Disney films. The film relies too much on cartoon slapstick, overt humor, and its hip attitude to ever be a classic. Its one song is a great one, but the movie lacks the detail, length, and polish of Disney’s musicals. The result is an entertaining watch that misses out on the replay value of its fellows.
Watch The Emperor’s New Groove if you are looking for a light family comedy with plenty of color. The Emperor’s New Groove has the cast and writing for a very fun time, even if it is missing a bit of substance. Skip it if you are hoping for another Disney classic.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for color, character, and humor.