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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

The Emperor's New Groove follows the story of spoiled emperor Kuzco (voiced by David Spade). When Kuzco dismisses his advisor Yzma (voiced by Eartha Kitt), she decides to poison him. Her dim but muscular sidekick Kronk (voiced by Patrick Warburton) accidentally gives Kuzco the wrong potion, and instead of being killed, he is turned into a llama. Kuzco needs to get help from a peasant named Pacha (John Goodman) to get his body and his kingdom back, and the pair embark on a wild adventure in which they go over a rushing waterfall, get covered with scorpions, cornered by jaguars, and chased by Yzma and Kronk.

Is It Any Good?

4

Fast, fun, and funny, The Emperor's New Groove is a sheer delight. It deserves to be taken out of the rarified category of "animation" and called what it is: a cartoon. It has more in common with classic Warner Brothers cartoons like Bugs Bunny and Road Runner than with Disney animation classics. The animation is fine, but the voice performances are brilliant, especially Spade, who is sensational.

Unlike other animated adventures, this story has no perky heroine singing about her dreams, no adorable animal sidekicks, no soulful romantic duet to be nominated for an Oscar. In fact, there's no love interest at all. It's pure nonstop action and comedy, with a kind of freewheeling, even improvisational tone that is downright revolutionary. The movie even spoofs itself, along with other movies from The Fly to The Wizard of Oz.

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