Rugrats Movie, The MPAA Rating: G Entertainment: +3 Content: +3 1/2

The very popular RUGRATS TV series shown on the Nickelodeon cable channel has now been made into a colorful, animated feature film. It stars the same cast of children and babies, including the bald Tommy Pickles (voice of Elizabeth Daily) and his red headed friend Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh). There's also Tommy's 3-year-old terror of a sister Angelica (voice of Cheryl Chase), and the twin babies, Phil and Lil (voice of Kath Soucie). And in this movie they are joined by Tommy's new baby brother, Dil (voice of Tara Charendoff), who is born early in the film story. The kids are excited about the arrival of baby Dil and get to visit him at the hospital. But Tommy becomes disenchanted with his new baby brother when his parents give most of their attention to him. Then comes a grand adventure when all the children and babies go on a wild ride with baby Dil and get lost in the woods. In their efforts to get back home, they experience a truck crash, a wild ride down a raging river, an encounter with some comical circus monkeys and a bad wolf. It's all great fun, which will delight children as well as their parents.

Being rated G, this comedy action adventure has virtually no offensive elements. It does have some off color incidents to hold attention, though, such as the newborn babies in the hospital urinating in unison. And several comical remarks are made about baby excrement (poop) and cleaning it up. Other urination occurs, but no nudity is shown. Tommy becomes very jealous and indifferent toward Dil, but comes to his aid in emergencies and grows to love and appreciate him. There's plenty of slapstick comedy, including a child hitting others on the head and mild fighting among the children. And there's a harrowing ride down a raging river in which the children almost go over a waterfall. They also encounter a bad wolf in the woods and some mischievous monkeys who kidnap Dil. None of the events are particularly scary, although young sensitive children may be disturbed at times. THE RUGRATS MOVIE is one the whole family can enjoy.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Paramount Pictures, 5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038