Quite possibly the most comedic Disney animation. Yzma and Kronk are such a comical duo, definitely watch this movie if you need a good giggle. Very underrated too!
Yeah, this is a great movie. And not just for children, there are lots of jokes in it for adults to make it entertaining.
Amusing film.
'The Emperor’s New Groove' doesn't, in my opinion, feature a great plot, amazing music or incredible animation. All of that is all fine, though it's the humour that makes this film tick. It isn't belly laugh worthy but from start-to-finish I was amused by the funny nature of it.
The premise is very silly, which works in its favour, with a load of things that don't quite add up, it even references that itself in the third act. That just adds to the fun, they know it's a mindless 78 minutes and make it work.
The reason it comes out so well is thanks to David Spade and John Goodman. Spade is terrific as Kuzco, bringing the perfect wit to the self-serving emperor. Goodman is the overall star though, I thoroughly enjoyed him in the role of Pacha. Patrick Warburton is also decent as Kronk.
It all makes for chilled out viewing, you'll have a good time if you just sit back and enjoy it - as I did.
[8.2/10] The Emperor’s New Groove feels like a dividing line. It is, unquestionably, a great film, full of expressive animation, fantastic performances, distinctive environments, and outstanding sequences. But it bears little resemblance to the Disney Renaissance films that preceded it. There are practically no songs; no grand “I want” declaration that’s resolved or subverted at the end of the film, and no cheery animal sidekicks there to entertain the little kiddos. (It’s not a sidekick if the animal’s the main character, right?)
Instead, New Groove is a romp, a buddy film, a straight up comedy in a way that essentially no Disney films were in this era. There are still important lessons learned, scheming villains, and the goodness of humanity reaffirmed. But this movie is just as apt to be pure irreverent fun as it is to try to tug on your heartstrings.
Robin Williams once described Aladdin as a Warner Bros. film in Disney drag. Well, New Groove takes that idea a step further. And as great as those Renaissance predecessors are, this is a breath of fresh air.
The film focuses on Kuzco, the titular ruling prince of a Mesoamerican Kingdom who is spoiled, self-centered, and cannot even contemplate caring about other people. His path crosses with Pacha, a local peasant whose generational family homestead is soon to be bulldozed for the prince’s new water wonderland. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Kuzco, his advisor Yzma is plotting against him, with the “help” of her lunkheaded but oddly sweet henchman Kronk. All of these threads are woven together when Yzma transforms Kuzco into a talking llama, forcing him to seek Pacha’s help.
The smartest movie New Groove makes (aside from Kuzco’s amusing dance moves in both human and llama form), is to focus on two comic pairings -- Kuzco & Pacha on the one hand and Yzma & Kronk on the other -- both of which pay tremendous dividends.
On the good guy side, Kuzco and Pacha make the perfect foils. Not only does their pairing fit the show’s dramatic needs, with kindhearted Pacha teaching (and showing) the selfish Kuzco to think of others, but the comedic clash works just as well. Kuzco expecting the world to treat him like a king despite his new lower, furry station, matched with Pacha’s kind, helpful approach to anyone and everyone makes for a laugh-worthy combo.
Hell, even just the size differential between the two of them, with the bulbous, lumbering Pacha and the wiry, pointed little Kuzco works for the film’s physical comedy. David Spade and John Goodman breathe real life into both characters, hitting their hilarious and heartfelt moments with equal aplomb. So much of New Groove is a buddy road trip movie, and that wouldn’t work if it’s two main characters didn’t have such superb comic chemistry together.
And yet, somehow, the pair-up of Yzma and Kronk matches and in places even exceeds it. Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton are just as good as a comic duo. Yzma strikes the image of the usual (if exaggerated) plotting Disney villain, mixed with Daffy Duck, Sylvester the Cat, or any number of other Warner Bros. antagonists who watch their well-laid plans fall to ruin. On the other end of the spectrum, Kronk is nominally the dragon, but he is so guileless, friendly, and let’s face it, dumb, that it’s hard not to find the hulking lummox anything but endearing. The combination of her acid tongue and his sweet demeanor makes every moment they share the screen a delight.
The movie takes advantage of that by packing together a stellar array of humorous setpieces, with a slapstick edge that’s normally saved for smaller comic relief interludes in other Disney flicks. There’s a screwball vibe to so much that happens in New Groove, from guards turning into animals but not forsaking their mission, to a virtuoso restaurant-based farce at the film’s midpoint, to any number of fun scenes where Kuzco’s llama visage gets them into trouble. While there’s action and adventure here, the film is first and foremost a comedy, with the Looney Tunes-esque sequences to prove it.
In that same vein, it’s a remarkable postmodern movie in the kind of framing and laughs it goes for. Kuzco narrates his own movie and has conversations with himself between his llama form and his narrator form. The bad guys notice the different-colored dotted lines on the map that’s normally a hidden conceit to help the audience understand the progress of a race and chase. And when Yzma and Kronk beat Kuzco and Pacha to the palace, the villains acknowledge that by all accounts this fact makes no sense. In a Warner Bros. sort of way, the film generates yuks from acknowledging its setups and playing with the form, which gives it a light, enjoyable quality throughout.
Despite that chuckle-first policy, New Groove puts together a solid plot and arc for its protagonist, dramatized nicely within all the humorous bits. Kuzco is an oblivious jerk, made shamelessly self-involved by a lifetime of coddling (as established in the film’s amusing backstory segment). He meets Pacha, someone who is not only endlessly giving and kind, but who believes there’s good in everyone.
It’s not hard to see where this is going, as Kuzco not only learns humility from his stretch as a llama, but learns kindness and consideration from the man who exemplifies it. New Groove manages to earn this though, giving Pacha a good reason to neglect Kuzco but choosing to help him anyway, so his choices have force, and making Kuzco’s change a gradual one with plenty of (sometimes literal) backsliding. It comes down to a choice for Kuzco between saving himself or saving Pacha, and after what they’ve been through, what he’s seen from his unbidden protector, Kuzco chooses his unexpected best friend. The movie doesn't belabor the transformation, making it all the more effective.
Despite that, what makes the movie work is not solely that well-done character work. It’s the amazing actors who generate stupendous comic sparks with one another. It’s the zany irreverence that infuses the picture from scene one to the end credits. It’s the winking silliness that the movie’s writers and directors liberally ladle over the usual Disney helping of heart.
No, The Emperors New Groove doesn't really have epic musical numbers or beautiful young people falling in love or chipper animal pals (give or take a talkative squirrel). But it does have a young royal and wayward spirit finding their place in this world and becoming their best self. Only this time, it comes with a heaping dose of wacky, fourth-wall cracking comedy front and center. While it might represent the end of the Renaissance, it also represents a laugh-riotous glimpse of what Disney movies can be when they prioritize being funny over being moving -- something every bit the equal to their Bugs Bunny-fronted brethren.
The voice work by David Spade, John Goodman, Patrick Warburton and Eartha Kitt is all kinds of awesome in "The Emperor's New Groove". This is a genuinely funny movie. It's so lighthearted and fun, bright and colorful, and even the villain is likable. This is one of my favorite Disney movies.
I saw this online but after rewatching this Kuzco is totally Disney animation's Deadpool. David Spade and John Goodman have great chemistry. Kronk is hilarious. The short runtime makes everything move fast. One of the more underrated Disney animation movies.
Very entertaining movie. Not really as famous as other disney movies, but it has got many funny scenes.
The story, as you'd expect from a movie aimed at children, is very linear, but still captivating enough to keep the viewer interested. The runtime is typical of the category and with 1 h and 10 minutes, the movie never gets boring.
It tells a sorta coming-of-age story. Even though Kuzco is almost an adult, he is pampered from his life as emperor and unable to empathize with others.
Anyway, without being anything crazy good, the movie is pretty much a hit with almost anybody. The jokes work really well and are aimed not only at the children.
7,5/10
P.S.:
Oh, right. The vote. The vote for Kronk, the vote meant especially to rate Kronk, Kronk's vote. That vote?
10/10
great movie for ALL ages
A captivating film, with a simple but extremely fun plot, highlighted by the remarkable dubbing. Each joke is funnier than the last, contributing to a joyful and pleasurable cinematic experience.
Love this movie. Animation obviously isn't the best since it's 2000, but overall an amazing movie.
One of my favourite animated movies. Genuinely really funny
Disney, don't you DARE bring this into the live action remake realm
Funniest animated movie of all time.
I laugh so much with this movie, first time seen
It's the first time I've seen her and I really do not understand why I had not seen her before. It's just great, and quite funny. I loved it.
Is this the funniest Disney movie of all time? Yes, it is!
Not exactly one of Disney's most legendary, but surely a lot of fun!
Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton are gold. A definite favourite.
Shout by Crystal LandBlockedParent2015-08-24T09:47:12Z
This is in my top five "comfort food" movies list. It's almost impossible for me to watch this and not have a bad day get at least a little bit better.