Customer Reviews

Kronk's New Groove

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

First of all, let me just say that Kronk's New Groove is very, very funny with a good amount of laugh out loud moments. Surely that is all that matters then, eh? Well, no. Compared to the first film, the story is pretty tepid.

All of the previous characters return. Of course there is Kronk himself, along with Kuzco, Pacha and his family, the babbling squirrel and Yzma (who has now turned mostly back into a 'human' but still features a cat's tail and feline abilities). The movie tries to incorporate all of them into the story but nothing really sticks. It all just seems like an excuse for mayhem.

As before, it is told in flashback with Kronk explaining how he ended up in such sorry circumstances. His dad is coming to visit him and he's afraid of the inevitable disapproval he'll get as all he's managed to do with his life is be a Junior Chipmunk Troup Leader and run a restaurant kitchen. His dad thinks that cooking and talking to animals isn't a 'real job' and won't give Kronk the big thumbs up until he's got his own house on a hill with loads of money.

From this thin idea comes loads of deception, scheming and hijinks. And that's basically the movie. It IS packed full of hilarious moments and wonderful Looney Tunes-inspired humor like the first, but it just lacks that overall high-quality. Still, it's loads of fun and any fan of The Emperor's New Groove must give it a rent.

The DVD is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 soundtracks. The extras are minimal and aimed at kids.

For starters, I haven't seen The Emperor's New Groove, so I'm pretty much judging this sequel on its own merits. I liked a lot of things about Kronk's New Groove - maybe I would have enjoyed it less if I could judge it against the first movie, but maybe not. The only real negative about this one is its length - the credits start rolling after a mere 67 minutes, and that qualifies as short in my book. In a way, though, the length speaks to the whole aura of the film. Kronk's New Groove isn't about trying to impress you with the latest supercool animation techniques or framing an epic story that will be talked about for decades to come. I think it's just trying to entertain and, to some extent, deliver a wholesome message, and it does it in a fairly laid-back manner.

Kronk (Patrick Warburton) is now a chef (and, lest we forget, chief delivery boy) at a popular diner, his henchman days all in his past. He's pretty happy with his job and all of his friends there in town. Then, from out of the blue, he learns that his Papi is coming for a visit. Kronk has always dreamed of the day when his father would tell him he's proud of him - but Papi's hopes for his son involve a wife and kids and a big house on the hill (and no cooking). The kicker is the fact that Kronk actually had a house and a girl - sort of - for a while. Cue the flashbacks. First, we see Kronk get the big house on the hill after naively helping that dastardly Yzma (the still-meowlicious Eartha Kitt) with another one of her schemes. Then we watch what happens when he meets the woman of his dreams, Ms. Birdwell (Tracey Ullman) at Camp Chippamuka. Doing the right thing in the end, though, costs him both the house and the girl. So what happens when Papi finally arrives? What doesn't happen, as comic mischief ensues? If you're wondering about Emperor Kuzco, he does manage to insert himself into the film every so often - even though this movie really isn't about him at all.

There are some funny bits in this film. There's a good helping of your basic, physical humor that youngsters will like, but the jokes I enjoyed the most were ones that a lot of youngsters probably won't "get." In the case of one joke, the writer went way, way, way out of his way to deliver a grimace-worthy play on words that most folks under twenty probably won't even notice. Then there's the big dance scene with Kronk and his girl grooving to some vintage Earth, Wind, and Fire - it's just one pop culture reference after another. I loved it, but kids will probably just react to all the funny dancing going on.

Kronk's New Groove isn't going to set a new bar for animated movies, but it's a good, funny film that entertained this adult and will surely entertain the youngsters it's basically aimed at. The special features are fairly good, as well. The behind-the-scenes featurette is child-oriented, and it's pretty funny in its own right. Meanwhile, the two games, one of which puts you inside Kronk's mind, are decent and easy enough for a kid to understand and enjoy. The DVD also comes with a plethora of sneak peeks at upcoming Disney movies. Disney may not have hit a home run this time around, but Kronk's New Groove is certainly a solid double into the gap.

I have to confess I have minimal hopes (close to none, actually) when it comes down to Disney "Part 2" movies. Almost every single one of them I have seen has dissapointed me. So, in the same way, I had very low hopes for "Kronk's New Groove", very much so, the second part of "The Emperor's New Groove". To beat the first one or be just as good was a tall order: David Spade stole the show on that one, making it a very happy surprise for most movie viewers.

Kronk, indeed being a secondary character in the first one, takes on center stage here. And while his story lacks some of the appeal that made the first one a hit, the directorial duo manages to pull off a pretty funny flick, starring the same cast of voices from the first movie (Spade, Patrick Warburton -Kronk-, John Goodman -Pacha, the Emperor's partner from the first movie- and Eartha Kitt -Yzma, the villain-, among others). The movie is packed with tongue-in-cheek moments that I found amusing and my son laughed to over and over again. Also, there is a nice lesson to the story that kids older than my two-year-old can also learn from.

Considering the extras were not that big of a deal (that loses the movie half a star), and I would have given it 4 stars for what it was to me and how it was able to entertain my little one, I ended up giving it 3.5 stars. It's not going to be groundbreaking, but it's worth the laughs you will get.

My whole family loved the Emperor's New Groove and so a movie staring Kronk, one of our favorite characters, seemed like it might be decent. Granted, this is a Disney sequal and not a work of perfection, but it was very entertaining, though lacking in plot structure.
This story now takes place right after the original film and Kronk is working as a chef and delivery boy for the diner featured in ENG. However, he's terrified as a visit from his unapproving father is on the horizon.
We get to look back and see how Kronk is once again blinded by promises from Ezma and falls in love with another Chipmunk(?) Troup leader. However, in the later, the romance is more ridiculous than sweet and the silly little nicknames and dances quickly erase any feeling of sympathy for either character.
BUt we laughed, right? Yeah, I guess, there were several very funny, laugh out loud moments which really makes this movie worth the rent(among those being the little "headhunter" gag which makes my brother an I laugh like maniacs (yeah, we're really odd)). However, overall, its lacking enough that I doubt I'll see it very many more times and will likely not purchase it.
I guess this is one of those things where you can choose whether or not to buy or rent this movie. IT's funny and probably a good watch for anyone, but I would think twice before buying it.

My family enjoyed this watching this video. It's very colorful and the songs can be toe-tapping. The younger kids enjoyed it the most, as it is very fast moving. Lots of action. It's kind of a nice story, and it kept the attention of the kids. The story line isn't outstanding, but the technology make it interesting. Looking at the credits we were amazed at the number of people it took to make this video. Also, this video has an array of extras which kept everyone occupied. We'll watch it over and over.

"Kronk's New Groove" is a direct to video sequel to Disney's 2000 animated feature "The Emperor's New Groove," and the basic rule of thumb that at best such sequels end up being one star less than the original holds true here. Kronk (voiced by Patrick Warburton), was the chef who became the less than stellar right-hand-man for Yzma (Eartha Kitt) in her attempt to become the ruler of the mythical South American empire ruled by Kuzco (David Spade). Now Kronk is in the spotlight and gets to prove that he can get into lots of trouble all by himself, as if we have any doubts on that score in the first place.

There are several entwined plot lines at work in "Kronk's New Groove." The main one turns out to be Kronk's involvement as the leader of a Chipmunk troop, where he is teaching kids to win at any cost until he meets Miss Birdwell (Tracey Ullman) and learns that maybe winning is not the only thing. Unfortunately, he fails to pass that particular lesson on to his young charges. Meanwhile, Kronk, who is relatively happy working as the head chef at his own diner, learns that his Papi (John Mahoney) is coming for a visit. Kronk has been waiting his whole life for his father to give him a sign of approval and when he looks at the life he is leading he knows it is not likely to happen this time either. As for Yzma, she is still trying to cause trouble now that she is back in (mostly) human form (the tail is a nice reminder). Everything comes together at the end as even Pacha (John Goodman) shows up for the comic resolution of everything in the requisite happy ending.

Overall, I have the strange suspicion that "Kronk's New Groove" might actually play better for adults than for children, even though the latter are clearly the target audience. That is because I think the funniest things in the movie tend to be the references to other films, from "Pulp Fiction" to "Lady and the Tramp," and kids are just not going to be able to catch everything. Plus, the romance between Kronk and Miss Birdwell might distract kids from the point about sportsmanship that the movie wants to make. Kuzco pops up from time to time to remind us that he still needs a major ego adjustment, but he is just distracting and has his own spin-off, "The Emperor's New School," coming out next year for those who like Spade in low-gear.

The DVD bonus materials are scaled down for a direct to video DVD, with "Kronk's Brain Game" and "Pyramid Scheme" checking how well you paid attention to the movie (it took me three times to beat the latter; I feel so ashamed). There is also a short featurette on "How to Cook a Movie" that provides youngsters with the basics of how a movie like this gets made. The bottom line on this one is to simply follow the lead of your children. If "The Emperor's New Groove" is one of their favorite Disney films, then they should enjoy this sequel. But if you do not already have a copy of the original, then you can forego the sequel.

This is a very funny little film, and that's a very good thing since that's mostly what it's trying to do. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was either smiling or laughing all the way through. However, I will agree it isn't quite as good as The Emporer's New Groove because it is too beholden to the style of its predecesser.

What's that mean? It means the format of the story is quite similar including starting with our hero's lowest moment and relating how he got there in flashback. Also, there are several re-used jokes that are taken directly from Emporer. Some work, like the repeated devil and angel gags. Others seemed forced, including the appearance of the Emporer himself to interrupt the film and even draw diagrams on its still frames. They're still funny moments, but the movie would do better to stand on its own, which it does more often than not.

Also, though I am a big fan of the original, I am not particularly attached to the Emporer. David Spade did a fine job in the first film, but I actually find his character's presence in this film forced and unnecessary. If the Emporer was your favorite character, you'll be disappointed with the film. Actually, I found it refreshing that they were willing to relegate the stars to the background and allow so many minor characters to step into the spotlight. But not eveyone evidently feels the same.

Despite some brief lapses into self-referencial humor, it's chock full of gags and witty, silly dialogue. It's fun and entertaining, and that counts for a lot in this drab, dreary world. A definite must rent for any fan of Emporer or just looking for a good laugh.

I have read some of the reviews about this, and everyone has their opinions. I have no quarrels with them. However, my opinion would be that this movie should have been the first one. I say that not because the plot is better. I say this because I think Kronk steals the show in Emperor's. His one word lines, his kitchen scene taking over the chef at the restaurant, the ability to talk to squirrels. It's priceless. David Spade, in my opinion, did nothing to steal the show, and in fact, he really didn't have many lines that were funny. The show was drab until Kronk came into the scene.

Which is why I much, much prefer this movie over the first. It focuses on the Kronk and keeps Spade at a distance. Apparently Kronk had to have been a favorite to someone or he wouldn't have gotten a movie based around him. Not a 5 star because Spade's still in it haha.

I bought this movie against my better judgement, given Disney's track record with direct to DVD releases, and this movie just re-inforced my opinion that if it isn't good enough to play in the theater, then it's not worth my time or money. I bought the movie because I loved the original flick, and was hoping that maybe they'd done something more creative with Kronk than they usually do.

I was extremely disappointed and will probably never by another direct to DVD release from Disney again.

All of the characters from the original are included in the movie, as are all of the original gags. The gags don't work this time because they are almost exactly the same gags we saw in the first movie, and the chemistry between the characters isn't there to make them work. The writing and story are both mediocre and best, and are nothing like what Disney is capable of. It's very evident to me that Disney puts the B team to work to make the direct to DVD movies, while reserving the A team for feature films, and the end product shows it.

The only reason I can see for buying this movie is if you have small children who haven't gotten tired of the story line. For older children something along the lines of Valient or Chicken Little would be a better bet. For adults......I'd skip this one all together.

First of all, I want to say that the original was the funniest Disney film that has come out in the past ten years (Nemo excluded but the props for that go to Pixar). However, the idea was so CRAZY! I mean, an Aztec emperor turning into a lama...come on! But it worked. Why did it work? It was FUNNY! Spade stole the show as Kuzco; he was pompus, arrogant, and hilarious. In this sequel, he is missing and you can tell.

The plot centers around Kronk. At the beginning, he's a successful chef-and delivery boy-in a resaurant. But then he gets a lamagram from his father, who never approved of his cooking love and always wanted him to have a wife and a big house on a hill. You can say this movie is split up into two parts. The first deals with Kronk getting his house on a hill. It is the only part of the movie that features Yzma. The second deals with Kronk and his "little crush." Aw... I won't tell you the end, but it's Disney so you can guess.

Now, about the humor here. There are a couple of puns and corny jokes that are funny in a cheesy. Kronk's stupidity can give a few "oh my word" chuckles. The shoulder angels are MASSIVELY overplayed. Yzma, with her catlike behaviors and tale, belonged in the whole movie. Kuzco appears 4 times. At the end, he's dressed up like a woman (hey everyone is) which gives you some humor. The other three times, he is watching the movie and commenting on certain things. Honestly, these random comments and interludes by Kuzco are the funniest parts of the entire movie. David Spade steals the show whether he wants to or not. He just does. The rest of the humor in this movie is simply overshadowed by him. In these interludes, you see the humor that this movie could have had if it had been plotted better and if Kuzco had actually played a part. Honestly, it's not just Kuzco who's placed into a random spot for the sake of being. Pacha and his family are extremely forced in the movie (even more so than Kuzco in some ways). Yzma too was forced and, as I've said, she should have been in the entire movie. And one more thing about the humor...The music in the first one was funny enough, especially for a Disney movie. The music in this one was...well...you can imagine...

Perhaps very young kids, especially those who have not seen the original movie, will enjoy this one and the sweet message it sends (do the right thing). But other kids, 9+, maybe even younger if they're intelligent, will be able to notice the low quality of this movie. Certainly 93% of everyone who have seen the original will be able to notice that it isn't as good. And if you are an adult...well, the original would have amused you but this one may leave you feeling worried about the direction of the human race.
If you haven't seen the original, then go see that one. Saying that this one pales in comparison would be giving it a compliment. If you've seen the original, RENT this. I bought it and I regret wasting my money.