Usually when Universal Studios decides to turn a classic television show into a feature film, they cast an Oscar calliber actor in the lead role (examples: Brendan Fraser in Dudley Doo-Right, Tom Arnold in McHale's Navy and Jim Varney in The Beverly Hillbillies). Unfortunately, in the Rocky and Bullwinkle movie, we get a second rate hack like Robert De Niro. Don't get me wrong, I like De Niro...but he is clearly out of his league when surrounded by such brilliant performers as Jonathan Winters (in three roles), Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg and Emmy Award winner Jason Alexander, star of The Burning...and that Seinfeld show.

All joking aside, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle is Universal's best attempt yet at turning an animated show into a full length film. It is cheesy, don't get me wrong, but intentionally so. Bullwnkle's puns are hammy, yet funny, and Rocky is still voiced by the late, great June Foray into madness...oh wait, she's still alive and on life support (or at least it sounds it). The plot is non-existant, but the film's pace is furious and the cameos amusing. John Goodman fares best as a State Trooper in an amusing take-off of the television show Cops. Other supporting roles, such as Jason Alexander (who actually needed a hair EXTENSION to look bald...it's true!!!) as Boris Badenov and Rene Russo (who shaved for THIS, unlike in Buddy, where she obtained the title role role) as Natasha Fatale are right on the button. De Niro (who really needed that 5 1/2" chin extension, really!) seems to be amused as Fearless leader, but I hope he doesn't get a jaw ache from chewing all that scenery...or the chin wieghing it down.

Unfortunately, this move is destined to bomb as it has too much summer competition. It will probably slide onto home video unnoticed. Ashame, as it is one of the campiest comedies released in years. The humor is self-reffurental, but extremely amusing. This is much better than last summer's Inspector Gadget (which grossed $98 million!!!!).

The low point: Whoopi Golberg's awful cameo as Judge Cameo. Also, at the film's conclusion, when it appears as if Randy Quaid is about to remove his pants before a female FBI agent.

The high point: Nickelodeon's Kennen and Kel talk about how their show will never fall into the bottomless pit of syndication...just before giving a sly wink to the camera rivaled only by Anaconda's Jon Voight.

If you love the old television series then the movie will not dissapoint you. If you don't, still give it a shot. It's just cheesy enough to entertain even the youngest cheese lover. Rated PG for a very brief moment of profanity by the narrator and lots of full frontal nudity by the title characters.





�1999 Sith Design