Powerpuff Girls Movie, The MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 Content: +2

Recently introduced on the WB broadcast network, young viewers of the cable Cartoon Network may already know Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup (voiced by Catherine Cavadini, Tara Strong and E.G. Daily), along with the eccentric, but kind Dr. Utonium (Tom Kane). In his laboratory, the scientist mixes sugar, spice and hopefully, everything nice to create the perfect, adorable little girl. Unfortunately, an accidental spill of Chemical X into the mixture results in three alien-like girls with incredible strength, laser beam eyes and the ability to fly. The well-intentioned doctor soon finds his unique children do not fit into a traditional kindergarten setting. Their superhuman energy cannot be contained, and chaos reigns. But the same accident that creates the girls, also turns a lab monkey into the evil genius Mojo Jojo (Roger L. Jackson), who sees the pre-school super trio as his ticket to world domination. Non-stop action, property destruction, explosions, car crashes and mayhem whet young childrens appetites for more visual violence presented as entertainment. Too powerful for preschoolers, and too puffy for the over-7 set, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS are best left in small doses on TV.

The creators of this action-based cartoon try to justify the violence by allowing good to overcome evil. But positive themes are often buried in preachiness that barely registers in young minds anxiously awaiting the next colorful explosion or car crash. The Powerpuffs learn they must control their unique powers and be more considerate of others. They also learn that whining and complaining wont free them from the evil Mojo Jojo. And, at least, they learn the lesson of facing problems, instead of running away from them. Jumping in a river of lava gives the girls special fixing powers to reconstruct the physical damage they do to their futuristic city of Townsville. A few darns, a dog relieving himself, and a robot animal making deposits are a bit crude. Otherwise, there is very little in THE POWERPUFF GIRLS that will offend. But even with few offensive elements and some positive messages about righting wrongs, this animated feature uses excessive violence to entertain. In fact, the frantic action alone earns the PG rating. Excessive violence earns this animated feature only a moderately positive acceptability.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522