The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle

Release Date: July 2nd, 2000

Cast :

Directors: Des McAnuff

People often get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of reality, that they forget the youthful spirit, which motivated and carried them to where they are today.  The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle is the personification of that principle.  It is fun loving, without being insulting.  Satirical, bordering on stupid sometimes, but the overall effect is successful.  This is a film that is truly one for the young, and young at heart.  Unfamiliarity with the original may taint the movies effectiveness, but not the basic message.  It takes the premise of an animated movie to a different level and succeeds where Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Cool World and The Flintstones failed;by never taking itself or its subject matter seriously

Like the cartoon series, the plot is simple and easy to follow.  A desperate Hollywood screenwriter makes a fearless deal that brings Fearless Leader, Boris Badenov and Natasha into reality.   Upon arrival their plot for world domination is hatched.  By hypnotizing the masses through really bad television, the world would be under Fearless Leader’s evil clutches.  The FBI, recognizing the cartoon villains, sends a bumbling agent to retrieve FL’s only foils.  The remainder of the movie focuses on the journey and adventures of Agent Sympathy, Moose and Squirrel toward achieving this goal.  A substantial amount of fat could have been trimmed from the story.  The one-note fish out of water jokes run dry quickly, while certain obvious pun attempts fall painfully flat.   With a more compact running time, this film could have been a memorable little piece of summer fun.  The jokes and dialogue are cheesy, bordering on insulting and stupid, but the script does hit more than it misses. It is not afraid to acknowledge and even spoof the original inspiration.  It is not afraid to poke fun at predecessors, which attempted to integrate live action and animation (i.e. Roger Rabbit).  Most of all, it is not afraid to admit that it is a silly, pun filled venture in self satirization and the search to recapture the child in all of us. 

Some big name performers get to take a vacation and have a little fun.  Having the most fun is Alexander who does a nearly dead on Boris.  Russo is unrecognizable and never outstanding, but still seems to be delighting in her sidekick role.  DeNiro hams it up, going a bit over the top at times, but is still a joy to watch.  There are even some well-placed cameos, which shall be saved for the viewing and revelatory surprise that they should be.  Disappointing is the Perabo as a way to brainless FBI agent.  She is devoid of acting ability and becomes nothing more than a starstruck cartoon fan that speaks in over dramatic and unnecessary tones.

Ultimately, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle is a nice respite from the summer cinematic world of explosions and over dramatics.  It is a movie that is never afraid to acknowledge it’s sources or try something for the sake of a laugh.  It succeeds more than it fails.  The film covers all age groups, like Chicken Run, by combining enough animation and antics with satirical inside jokes and cultural references.  This one is a true guilty pleasure, and summer surprise amidst the ineptitude that has primarily populated the calendar so far. ($$$ out of $$$$)

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