Customer Reviews

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

After reading the previous reviews I didn't feel desperate to watch this terrific movie. Buy this movie! I am 32 years old and I don't have kids. But, I laughed-out-loud all through this movie. Jimmy's best friend (the guinea pig for all of Jimmy's dangerous experiments) deserves an Oscar for best supporting actor in a comedy! Now that's a friend! If you can't tell already - Jimmy is really smart and creates cool gadgets. Oh and Jimmy has built his very own gadget workshop (accessed via a secret elevator entrance in the back yard) under his house. At no time did this movie seem slow. You (or maybe your kids) will barely have time to recover from one laugh to the next or between exciting action scenes. There is a very cool and super-loyal robot dog too! This movie can help ANYONE forget their problems and escape into Jimmy's world!(that is saying a lot!) I am crossing my fingers for many sequels. If the creative geniuses who made this movie are perhaps reading - Job Well Done!

As far as state-of-the-art computer animation has taken us, "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" isn't first rate, but who said it needed to be, anyway? Here is a movie whose animation reminds us that capturing reality through technology isn't always appealing; for me, this delightful children's movie is a true triumph of comedy and spirited fun, and will no doubt please children as well as adults.

The story is based on the Nickelodeon cartoon featuring Jimmy Neutron, a highly intelligent elementary school student whose knowledge of all things scientific wows his father and displeases his mother ("How many times have we told you not to play with rockets?"). He is teased at school for his height and his creativeness, which sometimes carries mixed results, though none of it seems to bother him. His inventive nature drives him to do things like creating a girl-eating plant, burp soda, and launching a satellite made from a household toaster into space.

When phlegm-like space aliens retrieve the satellite and discover Earth's coordinates, they descend on Jimmy's town and kidnap all adults as a meal for their ruler, a cross between a chicken and Godzilla. At this point, it's up to Jimmy to save the day.

This is a very simple yet entertaining story, devoid of the in-jokes and satirical whimsy of "Shrek," or the slightly more realistic appearance of Disney's "Toy Story" movies, yet it still manages to please with its childlike innocence and its wonderful humor. Jimmy's creative mind provides for some very wacky shenanigans, including a completely robotic dog named Goddard who is Jimmy's friend for life. He is also supplied with two best friends, a nerdy, timid chub named Carl, and a cartoon fanatic named Sheen, both of whom bring a great deal of laughs to the material.

The comedy supplied here reminds us that a movie need not be a satire or parody, or possess abundant bodily function jokes or crude humor to be amusing. As for the computer animation, there's no reason I can think of for which "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" should have been supplied with a completely realistic animation process; in fact, when working with the movie's unrealistic story, it adds to the sense of whimsy and fantasy that makes it such a terrific movie.

I expected no more or no less than fun from this latest family feature, and came out with a big smile on my face. Like many of the year's family films, from "Cats and Dogs" and "Spy Kids," to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," this film is pleasing for the kiddies while reminding adults of the pleasures of childhood, and that alone is worth it. That, and the chance to see a Ferris Wheel and an octopus flying through space.

"Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" (2001)

It is rare that an animated children's film comes along and reminds us exactly how much fun it was to be a kid. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is one of those movies that makes you want to go back to those days and play with your gadgets and have fun. Instead of doing that you could just watch this splendid film. It's about as suitable for kids as it is for adults, and I'm sure even though the movie is unrealistic, everyone will view Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius as it was meant to be viewed - a fun-filled, imaginative and faithful adaptation to the TV show I have not yet seen.

The movie's plot is fairly simple - some kids' parents are kidnapped by aliens so its up to the children to save the day - but the wizardry is not in the plot. The real fantastical thing about the movie is the fact that Jimmy Neutron is a boy-genius and this offers for some terrific belly laughs. The fact that this young child can invent things that children and even some adults can only dream about is brilliant and it brings the movie vividly to life. Jimmy can invent edible bubble-gum which blows up to be a type of transport, burp soda, a mechanical dog named Goddard, a plant which is robotically engineered to eat girls, and many other things. Neutron's inventions are what save the day in the end and they are memorably creative and you'll wish you had some of the things that Jimmy could invent.

The film's humour is absolutely stunning. You've got the chance to see a giant octopus and rollercoaster ride in space, see Channel 7 news run by children and the characters themselves bring many smiles and laughs to the movie. Jimmy Neutron is a funny man himself, very scientific and uses a lot of big words and metaphorical slangs (funny since he is so young), but it isn't him that steals the show. For me, the sidekicks really steal the show which is so often the case in many comedies. Carl is Jimmy's best friend, a glasses-wearing, chubby and thick guy, and he has the coolest voice and I just thought his lines and character in general were very cute. For the kids Sheen will be terrific. His obsession with a cartoon character Ultra Lord offers many belly laughs. And then of course there's Goddard, Neutron's mechanical dog, who has many gadgets and insertions, and he ultimately takes the cake and is the most inventive (and that's out of a lot) thing in the film.

Sure, the movie does have a couple of problems. There are still some questions you'll want answered like I wondered if the parents were only abducted from Jimmy's home town or from all over the world. And how could the children just "breathe" in space? But of course you've got to remember this movie is mostly intended to be seen by children so those 2 are excusable in some senses. What disappointed me slightly is that the movie is really quite predictable overall. The gadgets and ideas in the movie are indescriably entertaining and you don't expect them, but the plot doesn't have any major twists and turns and you just know how the movie is going to end. I also wanted to see more of Jimmy's class teacher, who is the funniest character in the entire film and has yet 2 scenes.

However, what remains of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is a terrific animated movie with great memorable quotes and some amazing ideas. It is worth seeing in the theatres for its creative genius and great photography. Highly recommended!

MY GRADE: A-

Many filmmakers try to make kids movies as entertaining for the parents as for the kids. Some movies get that just right, like Spy Kids; some movies go a little too far, as Monsters, Inc did in a couple of the scary moments, or Harry Potter did pretty much throughout.

Jimmy Neutron, in contrast, is focused squarely at the kids, and hits its target unerringly. My daughter was completely engaged from beginning to end. Even the obligatory scary incarceration scenes were toned to just the right shade; she turned to me and confidently announced that "the kids are going to win anyway, you know, daddy." I was quite relieved.

This is not to say I didn't enjoy the movie. It's light and entertaining, and some of the visual humor was quite delightful. The plot is uncomplicated, as the message. There is some nuance in the interaction between the characters, but even this is painted in primary colors.

As we left the theatre, my daughter was already asking to go back and see it again. That's a pretty strong endorsement.

Who woundn't like Jimmy Neutron! His parents seemed just...well..annoying! But until his parents disappear, it's up to him to lead all the kids in the neighbourhood,to the galaxy of the unknown, it has rockin' music, which goes good with the great scenes, for sure, Jimmy Neutron is the movie of the season.

This movie was one of the BEST movies I have ever seen (including a lot of adult movies). There were no swear words, it was faced paced and kept my 4-year old and 6-year old's attention and it was an extremely positive movie. This movie was understood by both the adults and the children. My son is 6 and he laughed throughout this movie (as well as my husband, my mother in law and myself!). It was an extremely wonderful movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone!

So Jimmy Neutron doesn't have fancy special computer effects, it's still a nice movie. Sure it's a no brainer but that's what makes it entertaining.Stop looking for all the special effects and just enjoy the movie.

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Summary:
A great kids movie that is enjoyable for adults as well. Lots of color, action, silly scenes, and imagination from the kids point of view.

DVD Features:
The DVD has some great features, but lacks Directors' Commentary. This is a great disappointment only because the movie is very clever. So, it would have been awesome to hear what thoughts went through the Director's mind while making this.

It does provide a number of pre-quels for this movie, as well as a number of promotional short shows for the Jimmy Neutron cartoon that should become a regular feature on Nickelodeon.

Finally, an interesting quick feature with almost all the actors regarding their respective characters and the fun they had making the film.

Review:
James Isaac Neutron - aka Jimmy Neutron is a young genius with a larger than normal head.

His numerous inventions are creative and his mis-adventures with those inventions are entertaining. - especially his robot dog Goddard, which can transform into anything you can imagine! His secret laboratory is more creatively clever and entertaining than Dexter's.

Jimmy contacts and advanced alien civilization for universal peace, only to find they have kidnapped all parents in his town. So, its up to Jimmy and his friends to construct a fleet of rockets (very childlike rockets) to bring them the alien planet and get their parents back!

Scare Factor:
My kids absolutely loved it (4, 5, 6 years old). While my son (just turned 4) loved it and was not afraid (my concern for movies with "bad guys") I can see how other children may not be so happy about the aliens.

So, go into this great movie with "optimistic caution" for the very young.

...make this film one of the cartoons that please adults almost as much as their offspring.

the animation achieves a fluidity rarely seen in CGI animation and very nearly matches the masters--Warner Brothers and old Disney. The colors are bright and kid friendly, yet the dialogue, allusions and spoofs of everything from teen movies to comic books will entertain adults.

The animators have decided not to tread down the path that Pixar and SKG have gone with Toy Story and Shrek, i.e. the attempt to "copy" reality, and have, instead, pursued the outlandish whackiness that cartoons used to be known for. If some have criticized the animation, then they have been comparing apples to oranges.

We have kept our daughter (4 1/2) away from Nickolodeon because we find it generally tasteless, crass and repulsive--thus we were very pleasantly surprised at the result.

The characters are interesting and well drawn and played to the hilt by everyone involved.

One can only hope the inevitable sequels are done with as much verve and cleverness.

A couple of nitpicky items: I agree with the observations of some that Jimmy's father could be more complexly drawn. In this film he is a mere compliment (pun intended) to Jimmy's fiercely brilliant mother. It would also be a good thing for the children if there were a couple of adults (other than his mother) who were a LITTLE smarter than the actual teachers most of us had in school. To wit, Mrs. Fowl, while funny, comes across as little more than a brain damaged Flo from Alice.

Bottom line: if you're a catroon fan you'll enjoy it as much as your younger children will.

You might already know the story of "Jimmy Neutron:Boy Genius." If there's anyone of you readers reading this review for Nickelodeon who DON'T and haven't yet watched this movie, I can tell you. It's actually the story of a 10-year-old boy named Jimmy Neutron (Debi Derryberry), who is also a boy genius, but GIRLS call him NERDTRON. Two of the girls are Cindy Vortex (Carolyn Lawrence) and her friend, Libby (Crystal Scales). Jimmy has two best friends, Carl (Rob Paulsen) and Sheen (Jeff Garcia). Jimmy has tough parents, Judy (Megan Cavanaugh) and Hugh (Mark DeCarlo). He and his friends make a wish for no parents bossing them around. One day, aliens called Yokians ABDUCT the parents, making the wish come true. All the kids in Retroville get excited until the following day. "Dear son/daughter,we have gone to Florida for an extended vacation," the fake note says. "Love, your parents." It's up to the kids of Retroville to save the day!

DVD BONUS FEATURES
-Music Videos, "Leave It Up To Me" By Aaron Carter And "Kids In America" By No Secrets
-Jimmy Neutron Shorts And Cliffhangers
-Behind-The-Scenes Documentary, "The Making Of Jimmy Neutron"
-Teaser And Theatrical Trailers

Blast off!