Review: The Emperor’s New Groove

Kuzko (voiced by David Spade) is an insincere, egotistical Aztec emperor who is targeted for assassination by his scheming underling Yzma (voiced by the legendary Eartha Kitt), after he fires her. She tries to poison him, but in some kind of toxicological mix-up, she ends up turning him into a llama! Now he needs the help of a humble peasant farmer (voiced by John Goodman), who unfortunately doesn’t trust the emperor given he was all set to callously demolish the man’s village to build himself a swimming pool. This is a tenuous partnership to say the least. Meanwhile, Yzma and her idiot bodyguard Kronk (too dopey to be truly villainous, as voiced by the great Patrick Warburton) are still trying to kill Kuzko. Wendie Malick voices the farmer’s wife.

 

It’s a bit of a shame that I waited so long to watch this Disney animated film from 2000, because it’s actually pretty good. I normally loathe angular animation, it’s something that helped ruin “Pocahontas” and “Hercules”, but here’s one film where it actually suits the story, and isn’t ugly. Directed by Mark Dindal, it’s not the horrible, wannabe hip musical that the title might suggest. Instead, it’s basically a comedy, with its jokey spirit far more akin to Warner Brothers/Merrie Melodies than the House of Mouse, which surprised me as well (The film’s director having cut his teeth previously on WB’s “Cat’s Don’t Dance”). It’s not classic Disney and it doesn’t want to be. It just wants to provide fun, and that it certainly does.

 

Really goofy and warped, the voice casting of insincere smart-arse comedian David Spade in the lead role proves inspired. It might just be his best film role ever (Apologies to the three “Joe Dirt” fans out there). He is backed up by a pretty strong cast, with a very Puddy-esque Patrick Warburton stealing the entire show as a dumb bodyguard. Very dumb. Super-duper uber dumb. Dumbski even. The inimitable Eartha Kitt, meanwhile is spot-on as the film’s villainess. Wendie Malick and particularly John Goodman are also well-chosen for their roles, if not used to their fullest potential. Meanwhile, the Tom Jones-sung opening song is random as hell, but fun. Speaking of songs, Sting is credited with songs, but aside from the end credits one and the opener by Jones, there’s no songs in the film at all- thankfully! (There’s a story behind Sting’s lack of work featured in the film, if you want to go to IMDb. Basically, the film as is, is entirely different to the one originally planned, which Sting was heavily tied to. Only one of his songs now remains in the film).

 

The angular animation may not be to my personal taste, but this is an amusing romp, and much more enjoyable than I was expecting. David Spade is surprisingly palatable in the lead. In fact, it’s his showcase, though he’s well backed-up in support. The screenplay is by David Reynolds, from a story by the director and Matthew Jacobs.

 

Rating: B-