Doug's 1st Movie Reviewed by Eugene Novikov http://www.ultimate-movie.com/dougsfirstmovie.html Member: Online Critics Society
** out of four
Featuring the voice talents of Thomas McHugh, Fred Newman, Chris Phillips, Constance Shulman, Frank Welker, Doug Preis, Guy Hadley, Alice Playten. Rated G.
For years, films made for a younger audience have either targeted preschoolers or older teens. Barring the occasional transcendent animated Disney feature, the amount of movies made to appeal to, say, a 12-year old. Disney tries to change all that with Doug's First Movie, a film treatment of the popular Saturday morning cartoon. The star of both the show and the movie is Doug, a shy, timid schoolboy who is trying to win the heart of his life-long crush Patti Mayonnaise in time for the school dance. He is forced to compete with a cool, sleazy "upper-classman" named Guy. Incidentally, his best friend Skeeter Valentine discovers a monster in the polluted Lucky-Duck lake nearby, and now Doug must decide whether to save the monster, who is being hunted by the trash-happy mayor and his dustbusters, or go after Patti.
I've always been an affectionate fan of the cartoon (please, don't leave!) because of the neat way it chronicles how an ordinary kid deals with ordinary problems in extraordinary ways. One of the problems with Doug's First Movie is that it actually puts its protagonist in a truly unusual situation. I never expected Doug to concern itself with a friendly monster, it is almost abominably against the 'toon's very nature, but here we are.
The concept could have worked if it wasn't such a blatant rip-off of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, the classic about a boy who befriends a friendly alien. This is essentially the same movie, except this one is preachy and not nearly as touching -- or as cute -- as Steven Spielberg's family masterpiece.
The subplots about Doug's girlfriend-to-be and the evil mayor fare better, as they are more involving and more akin to the tv show's general themes. While the monster scenario is targeted at the very young people who will inevitably see this movie, the other plots are out there for the preteens who should have the most fun with Doug's First Movie. The film is too bland for the 4-year olds who will be disappointed at the non-flashy, sub-par animation and the unfamiliar to them get-the-girl sub-plot. But 12-year olds might enjoy this immensely because they are the group that it speaks to, if any.
Still, there are oodles of toons out there that are far superior to this dull, unexceptional effort from Disney's animation. Doug's First Movie was originally slated for straight-to-video release, but got a shot at the multiplexes after the success of The Rugrats Movie. Unfortunately, on video is where this belongs, and it would be much more passable as a rental. Unless you have a 12-year old who is a fan of the show, there is simply no reason to spend money on a film which is so unimpressive when compared to the string of stellar animation that we have seen come out of the studios these past few years.
Doug's First Movie is not as intelligence insulting as Quest for Camelot but it's not nearly as good as The Rugrats Movie. It doesn't feel like an event that belongs on the big screen. Also, Doug's First Movie decides to outright preach (a no-no Rugrats avoided), which is decidedly un-Dougish.
Although I smiled and even chuckled at some of the jokes in this picture (especially a VR gag that's "just like being in this living room... only much more expensive), this does not amuse an adult; it may even torture a few. My advice is to see this film only in case of extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, wait for it to show up on those trusty video shelves.
© 1999 Eugene Novikov‰
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