Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time

(Note: IMDb's automatic spell-corrector will not let me spell the title of this film correctly. It's "A S-i-t-c-h in Time", not "S-T-i-t-c-h".)

While Kim Possible (Christy Carlson Romano) sidekick Ron Stoppable (Will Friedle) learns that he must move with his family to Norway, villains Monkey Fist (Tom Kane), Dr. Drakken (John Di Maggio), Shego (Nicole Sullivan) and Duff Killagan (Brian George) join forces to acquire the famed Tempus Simius, which would enable them to time travel and finally rule the world. Can the Possible gang stop them?

Unlike other Kim Possible releases, such as The Secret Files (2003), A Stitch in Time is laudable for being conceived and constructed as a single film, telling one longer story, rather than being a compilation of half-hour episodes. However, there may seem to be some negatives with this film, especially if you are considering buying it on DVD. It only clocks in at 66 minutes--on the short side, even for a direct-to-video animated Disney film. There isn't much on the disc in the way of extras--just a very brief but cute "Naked Mole Rap" video (it must be less than 2 minutes long), and a few drawings with brief descriptions of Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable and Rufus at various ages. In terms of quantity, the disc is slim pickins.

Even when you first begin watching the film you might be hesitant. A Stitch in Time was drawn and inked largely by Disney's Asian television animation division, and is much simpler in some ways than even other Disney direct-to-video fare, or other Kim Possible DVD releases.

But it soon becomes apparent that rather than being overly simplistic like a low budget Saturday morning cartoon, the animation in A Stitch in Time is smart and highly stylized. It's very attractive visually; it ended up appealing to me more then The Secret Files. Also, kids (I would guess maybe 6 or 7 to 14 or 15) are obviously the primary target audience, so the shorter running time can be more of an asset with them.

Most significantly, however, the story and script are excellent. Writers Bill Motz and Bob Roth pack so much into the script, and Steve Loter directs the animators and voice actors to deliver such consistently high-energy, intelligent performances that the film doesn't feel short. Rather it has an epic feel, broad in scope, deep in content, and despite a plot line that could easily turn into a mess in the most capable hands (as has frequently been the case with similar subject matter in "adult" live action sci-fi/fantasy films), A Stitch in Time is always coherent and clever.

This isn't just a film for kids, although they're sure to enjoy it. Motz, Roth and Loter have filled A Stitch in Time with countless jokes, jibes and references that you'd have to be not only an adult to catch, but a quick-witted adult. A Stitch in time is full of social satire, refreshing irreverence (including towards the Kim Possible characters themselves), wonderful surrealism and mind-bending time travel paradoxes. It is closer to The Simpsons or even Ren & Stimpy in its delightfully anarchic spirit (although with nothing inappropriate for young kids) than the much more standardly paced and plotted The Secret Files (which is still a good "film", but nowhere near the quality of this one).

So leave any reservations in the dust and make sure you check out A Stitch in Time if you're a fan of animation, fantasy or sci-fi--even if, like me, you are older and have no children.

The first Kim Possible movie, A Sitch in Time, is a fun movie for fans of the Disney series. The premise is that the partnership between Kim and Ron breaks up when Ron moves away. The villains featured in the movie are Dr Drakken, Shego, Monkeyfist, and Duff Killigan. They team up with the newly found ability of time travel to defeat Kim Possible during different periods of her life. In doing this they hope to take over the world. Kim is pulled in by a futuristic 'Rufus' who provides her with means of time traveling as well. All in all, the movie was entertaining and fun. There were a few annoying time fillers of pop songs that went on too long. It was entertaining, though, to see young versions of Kim, Ron, and the villians as well as older versions of most of the characters. The jokes were typical for the show and in that aspect they were appropriate. It keeps true to the series so it's great for any fans of Kim Possible.

This is a great enough Disney animation film for all viewers to watch and enjoy. There were some parts throughout this entire Disney animation film that could have been a bit better and stronger but it was still watchable. The crew did a fine job in creating this Disney animation film. The storyline of this fine Disney animation film was brilliant and strong and had enough direction. The cast selection was terrific enough. They really committed to the storyline and to their respective characters. The chemistry that was displayed throughout this entire Disney animation film between the cast members was strong enough.

"Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time" works as a feature-length episode of this cracking Emmy-nominated series and as a good movie in its own right, if not the most original one of its type - but in any case, time travel's always a good source of stories and so are villains teaming up. In this case, writers/story editors Bill Motz and Bob Roth have most of Kim's recurring enemies joining forces to sort out our heroine once and for all, with Kim getting some help from the future's Rufus 3000 - a muscle-bound molerat who talks with the voice of Michael Dorn. Okay, so it does have some originality...

Most of the show's regular (Kim, her parents, Ron, the tweebs Jim and Tim, Wade, Rufus) and semi-regular characters (Drakken, Shego, Monkey Fist, Duff Killagin, Bonnie, Monique) make appearances here - though Senor Senior Senior and Senor Senior Junior are missing - and a lot of the fun comes from seeing their future selves, especially Wade and the tweebs; unlike some extended episodes there's no padding at all, and plenty of what makes "Kim Possible" such a great show, from sharp writing to good vocal acting (give Christy Carlson Romano credit for differentiating between Kim as herself and as a slightly younger version of herself - and Walt Disney Television credit for leaving the guest cast uncredited until the end).

The identity of the Supreme One is a bit too easy to guess - though in fairness Rufus 3000 does say it's obvious - and the insistence on draping a couple of the fight scenes with distracting songs is unfortunate (Adam Berry's score intentionally references John Williams's "Minority Report" music at one point, which is much more interesting), but these are the sole real flaws in an otherwise good production. Fun both for fans and for newcomers, "Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time" is SO not the waste of time, and arguably the best thing Freddie Prinze Jr's done to date.

"Why is everyone in the future so ripped?"

As a parent, I love this show. It's hip (far as I can tell, anyway), funny, exciting, teaches gentle moral lessons without an unduly heavy hand, and manages to hint at being sexy without remotely getting close to any boundaries. At its best, KP is better than lots of "Buffy" was.

Alas, this film isn't up to KP's own standard. Like many feature-length excursions from a TV series, it goes off in directions that are not really part of the canon, including some time-travel into the near future that lets us see some things about the characters' destinies that are just not all that interesting.

Regardless, the devotion Kim and her sidekick Ron have for each other, which is--to my mind--the greatest strength of this show, comes through clearly, and that's a good enough reason for KP's fans to see this one. If, however, "Sitch" is your first meeting with the high-school superspy who "can do anything," give the series a try too; it's better than this not-bad film.