Susan Granger’s review of “RUGRATS IN PARIS: THE MOVIE: (Paramount Pictures)
In this animated sequel to the highly successful “Rugrats Movie” which sprang from the Nickelodeon TV series, the focus is on Chuckie (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh), rather than baby Tommy (voiced by E.G. Daily). It seems Chuckie’s mommy has gone to heaven and he really, really, really wants a new mommy, which puts pressure on his dad Chas (voiced by Michael Bell). The theme of wanting to have a complete family is particularly resonant today – what with death, divorce and remarriage so prevalent. Somehow, a trip to Paris is tied into opening your heart and moving on. But it’s not the touristy Paris of the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower or the Seine. Most of the action takes place in an amusement park, EuroReptarland, which is an obvious poke at EuroDisneyland. The main Reptar attraction has broken and only Stu Pickles (voiced by Jack Riley) can repair it – hence, the family trip which includes Chas and Chuckie. Sparks fly from the nasty, Cruella DeVil-like park manager, Coco La Bouche (voiced by Susan Sarandon), who realizes that she must marry in order to get a promotion. Spurred on by meddling matchmaker Angelica (voiced by Cheryl Chase), with the aid of her pretentious assistant, Jean-Claude (voiced by John Lithgow), Coco plots to wed Chas, even though she loathes children. There’s potty humor and a kid-pleasing climactic chase involving the Rugrats on the repaired dinosaur and Jean-Claude in his huge, mechanical Escargot, plus cameos from Debbie Reynolds, Tim Curry and Casey Kasem. Musically, there’s Sinead O’Connor’s rendition of “When You Love” and the Baha Men’s catchy “Who Let the Dogs Out.” On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Rugrats in Paris” is a fast-paced, amusing 6 for tiny tykes – and it’s quite tolerable for adults.
