 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Inspector Gadget
- Review Date: August 12, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1999
Common Sense Media says
Not nearly as good as the TV show.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has commercial tie-ins, non-stop cartoon violence, and possible bad role models for children. Kids may want to imitate the evil RoboGadget, which scares a little boy by demanding money and threatening him with knives and other weapons. RoboGadget also burns down the town after yelling, "I'm going to kick some butt!"
What's the story?
INSPECTOR GADGET, Disney's frenetic version of the popular 1980s cartoon, stars Matthew Broderick as the bumbling cyborg cop. This live action adventure begins with explosion that injures a security guard. Pretty scientist Brenda (Joely Fisher) rebuilds the injured guard using high-tech gadgets. With his new abilities and new name, Inspector Gadget takes on his first case -- trying to find out who was responsible for the explosion that nearly killed him.
Is it any good?
Despite some amusing special effects, the movie is shrill and charmless, featuring (attempted) comical violence and innuendoes inappropriate for young children. Only the renowned Disney marketing and merchandising machine could have turned a movie as routine and uninspired as Inspector Gadget into a $100 million blockbuster. At a slight 78 minutes (including 10 minutes of closing credits), it's both not enough and way too much, featuring a tissue-thin plot and a cacophonous barrage of hyper-kinetic special effects. Gadget is a virtual human Swiss Army Knife and some of the effects derived from that concept are amusing the first time, but after about the 30th time they become tiresome and desperate. Gadget fully earns its PG rating, featuring non-stop cartoon violence, and some smarmy sexual innuendo, and jokey pop-culture references that will go over the heads of most kids. The movie also boasts blatant commercial plugs for Disney as well as Coca-Cola, Skittles, and M&Ms candy. Skip this one, especially if you have a hyperactive child to begin with, and catch an episode of the old cartoon series instead.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how this movie compares to the 1980s TV series on which it is based. Why do you think Penny, Gadget's young neice, is a great role model for little girls?
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AGE
bad
one word stinks if you want a good show watch kick buttowski
it's on disneyXD.
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AGE
It seemed like it was just an advertisement for Walt Disney
The whole movie was slapstick and cheesy. I don't really like those kinds of movies, but it may appeal to younger kids.
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Kid, 10 years old
September 26, 2009
AGE
the movie is better
i like the tv series,but the movie is better.
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AGE
that's a lot of fish, err i mean CRAP!!
even as a kid this movie bored me, and one joke which involves male body parts make way too edgy, i wouldnt mind but its disney, the car knows its in a disney movie, and the villain seems more like a tranny than a disney bad guy
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Kid, 12 years old
May 30, 2011
AGE
Better for a younger age group
I loved the movie when I was little, but now when I see it, it just looks cheesy and dumb. Little kids may like it. In the movie, they make a reference to an Indian man's "balls", and they drink champagne. Mr. Brown has a crush on Dr. Bradford, but only a little one. Lame effects for a 1999 movie, but what do you expect from a Disney movie. I prefer the 80s TV show of it.
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AGE
Alright! Who gave Mattew Brodrick another chance?
Well... Where to start? Remeber that 1998 Gozilla movie? The one where you rooted for the stars to die? Guess who's baaaaaack! Our good friend Brodrick, here to ruin yet another remake with his incredible blandness! Hooray! Honestly, this movie had no worth. None. Just... Another Disney movie. Run away now. While you still can.
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AGE
Not very good
It's not a very good movie (personally). There were some attempts at humor, but it didn't really make me laugh. I didn't watch the TV show before I watched this so I can't really comment whether or not the TV series is better (I'm guessing it is).
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AGE
realy good family movie!
i saw a preview for this in the movie section ot itunes store, and I had to see it! it is a realy good movie but there are a few questinable things,
1.there is alot of violence, inspector gadget gets in a car accident,claw gets his hand crushed (witch is why he got the claw), eivl gadget is equipt with wepon machine guns,bombs,saws,and other stuff, an old man is killed.
2.there is a little kissing.
3.penny dosen't always listen to her uncle by staying home and out of trouble.
4.claw smokes and charecters drink champane at a gala.
so this is a great action,comedy for abuot ages 9 and up!
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AGE
A Wacky and Forgetful Jumble Made for Kids.
INSPECTOR GADGET is based on an old TV show that was a hit. I can't say which one is better, the film or the show, because I've never seen the show. But I've seen the film, and it was nothing like I thought it would be.
Security guard John Brown (Matthew Broderick) is injured in an explosion while on duty. Dr. Brenda Bradford (Joely Fisher) and others put him together as a machine full of strange and useless gadgets to save his life. Enter Inspector Gadget, ready to fight the evil Claw (Rupert Everett).
The film is pretty bad. It doesn't exactly crash and burn, but it at least crashes. The only thing that keeps it from burning is Rupert Everett's over-the-top acting as the villian. Not to say that his role is perfect art, but it's the best thing about the movie.
Violence is constant, with wacky inventions setting fire to things and smacking people. There is no language, but there is some mild innuendo between Brenda and Brown.
I can't really say 'highly recommended' on this one. I might recommend it if you're desperate for something to watch and have nothing better to do with your time. But if that's not the case: no.
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| Topics: | adventures, robots |
| Studio: | Buena Vista |
| Director: | David Kellogg |
| Cast: | Joely Fisher, Matthew Broderick, Rupert Everett |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 78 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 23, 1999 |
| DVD release date: | June 3, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | whacky violence/action, language and innuendo |
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