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Parents' Guide to

Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Wowzers, this silly caper is hampered by poor CGI animation.

Movie NR 2005 66 minutes
Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever Poster Image

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What's the Story?

Inspector Gadget (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is looking for the evil villain Dr. Claw (Brian Drummond), who has escaped from jail, when he happens upon a gigantic dinosaur egg. When the egg hatches, the Inspector and his crime fighting gang try to keep it from becoming Claw's agent of world domination. Of course, Gadget bumbles his way through the investigation, but his many gadgets help him find his way out of desperate trouble.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

This addition to the Inspector Gadget franchise feels like an afterthought -- if simply because the CGI animation is so poorly executed. The gadgets look tired, the expressionless characters do nothing to help the mediocre dialogue, and the silly moments are ham-stringed by the stagy design.

The idea that Inspector Gadget is trying to recruit a giant dinosaur to help him with his juggling routine is zany enough to remind viewers of funny Gadget episodes. And Bernie Mac's guest appearance as the voice of the Gadget Mobile lends the movie a little professional credibility, but fans will be disappointed in this effort because it lacks the zip and vim of the TV show.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about villains. Dr. Claw is a villain whose face we never see. Does that make him scarier? Are there villains in real life?

  • Inspector Gadget bumbles through his days, trying to solve crimes, but much of his good luck has to do with his gadgets. What kind of gadgets do you have that help you?

  • Inspector Gadget uses his cell phone while he's driving. What could he learn from these tips on appropriate cell phone use?

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