Rugrats em Paris: Os Anjinhos

I sat through this movie with my wife, my two-year-old daughter (on my lap) and my boys (5 and 7 years old). We've been watching Rugrats on TV for some time, and are quite familiar with the characters.

Honestly, this was one of the better movies I've seen this season, bar none. There are ample parodies of other movies (to make the adults laugh-outright), as well as lots of fun for the little ones. The battle between Robo-Reptar and Robo-Snail kept my boys talking excitedly all the way home.

If you are not a fan of the Rugrats, this movie will do little to change that. However, this movie is considerably better than either the first Rugrats movie or any of the individual TV episodes. For once, a movie spawned from a TV series is actually better than the series.

With lots of fun references to other movies (`Godfather' being the best homage) `Rugrats in Paris' is a good time for all.

The animation in this film is not as flashy as in the first `Rugrats' movie that came out in 1998 but because of that it works all that much better. It is more simplistic, less dark and much more in the vein of the Nickelodeon cartoon series.

It also has a few breakthrough moments: why Chuckie doesn't have a Mom, Chuckie's first word (at least the first word understandable by adults) and actual empathy by Angelica for another person's feelings.

That is why I continue to watch the `Rugrats' both on television and in their movies: unlike so many other cartoon characters they continue to evolve and grow – though I hope they never truly grow up.

In addition to the usual voices used in the Nickelodeon series the addition of Debbie Reynolds, Susan Sarandon, John Lithgow and Casey Kasem make this film version just that much better. Especially Susan Sarandon who plays the scheming ‘Coco LaBouche' – a real star turn if ever there was one.

There are a few scary moments that children of the actual age that the Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil are supposed to be might find to be a little too much but the overall film has a lot of warm, fuzzy moments that, as is the standard for all the ‘Rugrats' productions, teach a good lesson without hitting you over the head with it.

There is pathos, sweetness, redemption, scariness and just the right amount of humour to make this a film that all the family should see.

It is a pleasant surprise when a movie meets your expectations; it's a great gift when a movie exceeds them. "Rugrat in Paris: The Movie" does just that. Being a sequel usually means a movie has one strike against it. Not only does it have the predecessor to live up to, but it needs to still seem fresh and new. The rugrats movies had the almost decade old series to live upto. The first one was a ruckus affair reminding one of the early years of the series. It was a total triumph. To maintain the high standards of both the series and the first movie would require some hot writing and a big payoff. Both are present in the newest edition to the rugrats saga. The story is a heart warming touching story, the songs that make of the sound track are just fantastic. Even if you are not a parent this movie will be one of your favorites of 2000.

I have watched the movie Rugrats in Paris and I think that it is really a great movie for kids to watch and enjoy. The movie was very realistic just like the other Rugrats movie The Rugrats Movie. Although it wasn't very good because of some parts. On a scale of 1 to 10 I think I will give it a 7 or 8.

Being that the first film in this series was somewhat of a disappointment, I had no expectations of this being above or beyond its predecessor-much to my surprise and pleasure, I was rather thrilled at the results.

The animation is stunning, even inspired. The illustrations are full, with just enough whimsy to let you know that this is still what it is. The story is a bit of a tear-jerker, especially if you have seen the series and are familiar with the characters. Anyone who doesn't feel something during this film never had a childhood.

Each segment comes alive with its own beat, pulsating joyful across the screen. There is enough in here for adults to WANT to see it again, and enough that the kids won't complain. The references to pop culture are extensive, not limiting themselves to the last five years, or just one genre, but running the gamut from art to politics and back again, from the present day to the distant past. This a film to treasure-not quite all time great material, but very, very good.

There are of course, scenes which don't work, or could have been cut out, but then it wouldn't have been itself-And what's the point of that?