Voices by David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton.
Kusco (Spade) is an 18 year-old ruler of an ancient civilization. All-powerful
and able to have his every whim satisfied at the snap of his fingers, he has no
compassion for the plight of his subjects, and has no concern for how his pronouncements
might adversely affect them. He summons a peasant leader Pacha (Goodman) of a remote
village upon which he wants to build a lavish summer home, and tells him that he
and his fellow villagers should start packing.
Meanwhile, top advisor Yzma (Kitt) and her beefy but brainless henchman Kronk
(Warburton) are scheming to poison the Emperor. Because all of Yzma's poisons and
potions are a bright pink colour and poorly labelled, Kronk selects the wrong vial.
Instead of being poisoned, Kusco turns into a llama. And instead of killing the
llama Kusco as Yzma commanded, Kronk inadvertently puts him on Pacha's cart, where
he returns with Pacha to the
small village. The llama Kusco demands Pacha return him to his palace, but refuses
to change his mind about the summer home idea. Kusco has little understanding of
human nature, believing people would have no interest in disobeying him or wanting
to harm him because he's the Emperor and it's their duty to obey him. But Pacha
hopes by him extending kindness to Kusco, Kusco will put his summer home somewhere
else, and his village rightfully remain with their present owners. But Yzma and
Kronk are not as enthusiastic in seeing Kusco return to ruin the cushy gig they
have going at the palace.
The Emperor's New Groove is pretty much of a departure for Disney. First,
despite the title, there are no musical numbers breaking up (or enhancing) the action,
save for Tom Jones opening number extolling the Emperor. That song begins
the second departure, that of the tone for the entire film - hip, smart-alecky,
detached, employing fast, often unrealistic (if that can be said of a cartoon) action
and fast-cut style editing of the scenes. Despite being set in some ancient Inca-like
civilization, the tone is thoroughly modern. While sometimes jarring and unsettling,
the good news is this approach is usually funny and mostly entertaining. Where it
falls down is that the glib approach rarely lets up so their is little emotional
connection with any of the characters, neither to the Emperor after he has learned
a bit of compassion, nor even with the lovable Pacha.
The film seems tailor-made for Spade. Kusco is a whiny, spoiled, self-centered
brat who pretends to be cool but is a dork at heart, the same character Spade has
been using forever. It is used to good effect in his sitcom Just Shoot Me,
but it is often more annoying than funny in his other work. But here with good
writing, the often
used storyline of a heartless power-tripper learning to be humble and think of others
is generally credible and very funny. Warburton's Kronk steal's the show
whenever he appears as the none-too-bright beefcake battling his decent, sensitive
loving-to-cook side with his evil devotion to the Yzma. His angel and devil which
appear on his shoulders to advise him in times of crisis are no brighter than he
is and are hilariously of no help. Warburton was Elaine's sardonic boyfriend in
Seinfeld, and he uses the same style of voice with excellent results. Also
strong is Eartha's Kitts spidery, conniving court advisor with power on her mind.
While by no means of the calibre of Beauty And The Beast,The Lion King
or many of the old Disney classics, there is enough action and humour for both the
kids and adults to make The Emperor's New Groove a worthwhile family outing.
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