The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

Written by David Reynolds
Directed by Mark Dindal

It took me a long time to see this movie. People would quote it all the time (usually something involving levers), and I would smile politely and remain unaware what they were talking about. Then, a few years ago, on a day off, I saw that it was on Netflix, and decided to finally see what all the fuss was about.

I became a convert.

Seriously, this is brilliant

Emperor’s New Groove is silly, at times stupid, but just good FUN. After all the serious that marks the bulk of the Disney Renaissance, it’s nice to have a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously (the scene where Yzma and Kronk notice the path lines on the ground from both themselves and Pacha/Kuzco never fails to make me giggle uncontrollably).

The best villain duo this side of Home Alone

For me, Yzma and Kronk are the saving grace of this film. Having these two as the antagonists is a stroke of sheer brilliance, and I love every single second that either of them is on screen (well, the scene with Kronk doing his own theme music borders on tiresome, but it could have been worse).

…Well, that’s a disturbing still of David Spade as Kronk

The worse casting choice is, unfortunately, the most prominent. I’m just not a fan of David Spade’s humor (I enjoy his movies with Chris Farley more for Farley than Spade), and his voiceovers just start to feel draining after a while.

The biggest issue with the film, from a plot perspective, is that plot seems to be scared of being too complex. Things are set up that, instead of being paid off in a later act, are paid off in the very next scene. Pacha and Kuzco make a deal, and shake on it. The next scene, Pacha is betrayed by Kuzco, and the shake is mentioned. This type of thing happens throughout the film; it’s as if he filmmakers don’t trust that their audience would be able to follow the plot or remember those instances.

It’s a fun movie, a little ray of sunshine between the two messes on either side of it.

FINAL GRADE: B