One thing that Nickelodeon (the Children's Network) has gotten down to a science is hype. Especially the hype of any movie based on a Nickelodeon TV show.

Gabor Csupo and Arlene Klasky have created four of Nickelodeon?s top shows Rugrats, Rocketpower, As told by Ginger and The Wild Thornberrys. The Wild Thornberrys joins the two Rugrats movies as the latest entry into movie theatre entertainment.

With the hype on Nickelodeon, Monkeygirl (age four) was reminding me daily that the Wild Thornberrys Movie would be coming to "a theatre near us in just X days!!" We managed not to see it opening day (much to monkey's fear that we might miss it completely).

Background

"The Thornberrys are just your normal family", so says the opening credits of the TV show. That is normal if your father is a naturalist/documentary star, Nigel (voiced by Tim Curry, yes, Rocky Horror), and your mom, Marianne (Jodi Carlisle) does all the camera work. Since the family travels around the world in their super RV called a comvee, the children don't lead a normal life either. Homeschooled and well traveled, stereotypical teen Debbie (Danielle Harris), geeky ten year old Eliza (Lacey Chabert), and adopted wild boy Donnie (Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) have adventures while enjoying (or putting up with) the wildlife in different countries.

Don't forget that Eliza saved a shaman and was given the gift of speaking to animals as long as she doesn't tell anyone of her gift. This allows her to communicate with Darwin, the urban and fearful chimp (Tom Kane).

The family may be different; however, they are a unit and the love and care for each other. Animal and environmental facts can be gleamed in every episode. I will admit to enjoying watching The Wild Thornberry over most of the drivel aimed at my age group.

Plot

The movie opens with Eliza and family in Africa. Grandma Thornberry (Lynn Redgrave) is also there -- a very proper British lady. After Eliza accidentally helps poachers catch her cheetah cub friend, Grandma suggests strongly that Eliza's life is too wild and she'd be better off in boarding school. So Eliza is sent to London, but what about finding the poachers and the cub? What about the solar eclipse and the elephants her father is going to film the next month? Why does Eliza get to go to London and make friends and Debbie has to stay in the wild? What happens is Eliza tells her secret? Who are these mysterious wildlife vets that Eliza meets in Africa? Do all plots arrive at the same point?

My Take

This was a well-done movie for the 8-12 year old set. Even hubby and I laughed out loud a few times even though honestly this was just an extended television episode. I don't really see folks who are not fans of the show enjoying the movie. Even though the movie takes place in the same location as The Lion King the animation is not as good. The animation was a hair better than the TV show, but will not take anyone's breath away.

The whole subplot of Eliza going to boarding school just didn't work for me. There was a TV episode where Marrianne's mother convinced Debbie to go to try out for a boarding school; however, as both Debbie and Eliza learned the Thornberrys, like a wolf pack, belong together. So I am completely surprised that they would send Eliza off to London.

Like the TV show, viewers walk away with trivia points about elephants, bush babies, and other animals. The conservation message is strong -- poachers are evil.

Being grounded in fantasy, it is easy to believe that Eliza would have no troubles getting from London to Africa alone or be able to do the physical tricks she does (jumping from elephant to elephant). You also have to be able to accept mysterious appearances of a shaman. If you want a documentary, this movie would be best skipped by you.

Unlike the TV show, music was used to help tell the story. Paul Simon has an excellent ballad highlighted in the movie "Father and Daughter". Other music was used for humor. I'll never listen to "She's a Lady" the same way again.

Monkey's Take

Monkey ended up in my lap for most of the movie. She has entered the stage where she hates watching conflict. Even the conflict of the new girl at a snobby boarding school was too much for her. She also did not see any humor in a food fight. The whole concept of boarding school upset her and may upset other kids of this age.

Upon returning home she did remark "That was a good surprise. I'm glad I got to see that movie."

But it's rated PG --includes Spoilers

Officially Wild Thornberrys is rated PG for the action violence. Some of the scenes are rather intense.

Other things to take in consideration are that you'll probably have to explain wedgies and sarcasm to your child after viewing.

Words like "geek" and "brat" are used.

The whole thing with Eliza having powers from a shaman doesn't really fit into Judeo-Christian belief and some parents may have objections to that. Darwin also points out that chimp and human DNA is 98 percent the same.

Final Recommendation

If you enjoy Rugrats or Wild Thornberrys and are looking for a family movie this holiday season, I would say this would be a great option. If you aren't that thrilled, there's nothing really to attract non-fans and you may want to wait until it comes out on video.

Just as a warning, according to the previews Eliza will return to the big screen in June 2003 when she meets the Rugrats. That may be interesting to see Angelica and Debbie interact.

Until then, The Wild Thornberrys Movie is a decent entry to the theatres as an enjoyable mindless family movie. Nothing more. Nothing less.


Recommended: Yes