Disney had hit a hard snag. In the post-Lion King world, few animated films were hitting the record breaking numbers they had hit earlier in the decade. While Pocahontas and Tarzan each grossed well more than their budgets, the other films hit snags at the box office and only grossed between $10 million and $30 million more than their budgets. The Disney Formula (a quirky yet relatable lead, a string of musical numbers, a cute fuzzy sidekick, and a happily ever after) was exhausted at this point, and was more the reason of the most recent decline in box office receipts than the success of Pixar and Dreamworks. Disney needed a film that could be different. Wrapped in the style of a Chuck Jones cartoon and blended with insane amounts of pop cultural references, The Emperor's New Groove was certainly more of a departure from earlier works than thought conceivable. And while it may not have the entertainment value of a 90's Disney film, it should be held within it's own right. Plot: During the age of empires in Central and South America, a young emperor named Kuzco ruled with a selfish and an egocentric nature. He even summons the local llama farmer to his palace, just to tell him he was destroying his home to build a summer getaway for himself. Seeing fit to depose the arrogant king, the evil ex-advisor Yzma and her henchman Kronk intend to poison the Emperor at dinner. But the potion instead transforms him into a llama. While disposing of the prince, Kronk loses him in the bustling streets and his bag ends up on the cart of Pacha, the llama farmer.
At his village, Kuzco begins to demand that Pacha take him back, but Pacha won't unless Kuzco builds his summer home elsewhere. When Kuzco goes off on his own and encounters a pack of vicious jaguars, Pacha decides to save him in the hopes that the emperor would be greatful enough to change his mind. While he doesn't plan to, an likely friendship blooms between the two and the new friends decide to return to the city, while Yzma is willing to do anything in her power to make sure they don't.
What's Bad?: I can't really think of the word that describes my feelings for this film. The tone is very out of sorts for a Disney film, should it have been a welcome change? The worst part is that this is the only film of it's breed and has no other peer. While some could say Aladdin or Hercules is the closest to it, those two still follow the formula. This is a very bizarre film, but a welcome breath of fresh air for Disney.
What's Good?: The only element of the film that stands out in any way outside of the generic wackiness of it
is the villains. The late Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton are the absolute best part of this movie. Their chemistry is second to only Hook and Smee, and you could not have picked two odder choices for roles, and yet the film wouldn't have been the same without them.
Overall: The Looney Tunes style of the film is more than enough to entertain people, and while it isn't exactly in the norm for Disney, it still has enough zaniness and unpredictability that makes it a gem to both watch and experience.
Report Card
Hero: 87
Heroine: N/A
Villains: 97
Side Characters: 92
Songs: 77
Musical Score: 86
Animation: 85
Special Effects: 74
Story: 84
Themes: 85
Final Grade: 85
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