December 20–27, 2001

movie shorts

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Jimmy Neutron (voiced by kids’ animation veteran Debi Derryberry) is very short and smart-alecky. He’s also a genius, always inventing things like jet-packs and shrink-rays and his very own robo-dog. The rest of the kids at school dislike him, except for his best friend, fellow outcast Carl (Rob Paulsen), until they all come up against something of a crisis: their parents are kidnapped by evil green-gooey aliens (primarily Patrick Stewart and Martin Short). Jimmy rigs the fairground rides (Ferris wheel, roller coaster, etc.) to zip the kids off into space, so they can land on the planet where their parents’ brains are being scrambled and save the day. Point being, it doesn’t matter if you’re short. The soundtrack is fine (culled mostly from the Nick/Jive roster, namely Britney, Aaron Carter, Lil’ Romeo and as added treat, the Ramones). Though the digital animation in this first foray into the field by Nickelodeon Movies is hardly earth-rattling, my young preview compatriots were most happy with the splat and goo effects, and verbal sputtering by Jimmy’s inane dad (Rugrats’ Mark DeCarlo). And the movie is only a side effect of the Jimmy Neutron franchise (called a "multiple venue blitz" in the press materials), including his appearances in Nick magazine and a TV series set to begin in fall 2002, as well as name-attachment to gum, dolls, video games and assorted food products.

—Cindy Fuchs

(AMC Andorra; AMC Orleans; UA Cheltenham; UA Grant; UA Riverview; UA 69th St.)