The Emperors New Groove 2 - Kronk's New Groove 720p - (2005 Lang: English)

Great movie for fans of the original.

Being a huge fan of the original movie, The Emperor's New Groove, I was thrilled to find that a sequel had been made. I bought the movie thinking that, at its worst, it would have some familiar characters and a couple of laugh-out-loud moments. However, I was delighted to find that it was as good as it could be without being the original classic.

For those who weren't fans of the first movie, this may be such a good choice as there are many 'in jokes' and nods to the original. Also the plot is quite complicated for a cartoon, effectively covering three stories in the one film.

However, the music is fantastic, opening with a very original and funky tune 'You Should Be True To Your Groove' and continuing with a fabulous jazz piece sung by the talented Eartha Kitt and a classic track by Earth Wind and Fire.

This is a movie that works on different levels, so that parents will not be bored when watching it with their children. There are a couple of cringe-worthy moments, perhaps aiming for a young teen market but these can be easily overlooked.

Overall a really great movie with some brilliant and original moments.

Emperor Kuzco (David Spade) narrates the story about Kronk Pepikrankenitz (Patrick Warburton), now chef and Head Delivery Boy of Mudka's Meat Hut, is fretting over the upcoming visit of his father. Kronk's father always disapproved of young Kronk's culinary interests and wished that Kronk instead would settle down with a wife and a large house on a hill.

In a flashback, Kronk tells the story of how he almost had both of these. As unwitting accomplice to Yzma (Eartha Kitt), the villainess of the first film who turned into a cat at the end of the original, but is now human again despite still having a tail, he goes along with her plan to sell sewer slime as a youth potion, he makes enough money to buy the old folks' home from the old folks and put his large new home there. Eventually Yzma is revealed as a fake and the old folks chase her down and corner her at a bridge over a river full of crocodiles. To prevent them from attacking her, she transforms herself into a rabbit, but is then caught and taken away by a condor. When Kronk realizes the old folks have sold everything they own in return for something which doesn't work, he gives his home back to them.

Kronk, as camp counselor of the Junior Chipmunks at Camp Chippamunka he falls in love with fellow counselor Miss Birdwell (Tracey Ullman); but when one of his Chipmunks, Tipo, pulls a prank to win the camp championships and is caught, Kronk protects the boy at the cost of alienating his love.

Kronk's father (John Mahoney) arrives and confusion ensues as several supportive friends try to pass themselves off to him as Kronk's wife and kids. But in the end Kronk realizes that his wealth is in his friendships, and this finally wins his father's thumbs up and Miss Birdwell's love.

Meanwhile, just outside the house, Yzma is in the condor's nest with two eggs, which hatch and presumably attack her before the credits roll.

I was really excited when I saw the commercials for this direct to Disney DVD movie. Because I loved Emperor's New Groove so much, I had to go out and get this one. As with all sequels of a well crafted original story - Kronk had my expectations set to a very high level.

It's hard to judge this movie without comparing it to the original and that's why I don't think it's possible to write a fair review about it. First of all, it did hold my attention the whole way through - the story moved right along and didn't seem to drag at all. Funny at several different points and rehashing some of the jokes from the first movie but not doing it to the point that it becomes irritating.

It starts out in a similar style to the original, a day in Kronks life where everything seems to have blown up in Kronk's world and has spun out of control. Then we watch the events that have already unfolded leading us back to the point in the opening scene in the movie.

There were some parts in it that were extremely entertaining and basically made the movie for me. One of these is the music "video" in the middle of the movie between Kronk and his love interest Birdwell. It was so funny - I laughed out loud. It's set to the song "Let's Groove" by Earth Wind and Fire and features musical sight gags from Ghost, Pulp Fiction, Titanic, the Micheal Jackson "Thriller" video, and Saturday Night Fever to name a few. A well done sequence in my opinion.

There were other elements of the story that could have used more attention from the directors. First off, Kuzco, Pacha and Yzma were shoehorned into the story. Granted the story is told from Kronk's perspective but the major characters from the first movie have basically bit parts in this one. Because of this, Kronk basically "goes it alone" getting himself into the mess he's in and having only himself (and his shoulder angel and devil - basically himself too) to get him out of it.

The main theme of it all is that Kronk's happiness hinges on his father's approval. At the end of the film Kronk realizes that he's not a failure because he has friends (straight out of It's a Wonderful Life) but it's not complete happiness until his Papi gives him the "thumbs up" - is that a good message or a bad message for kids? I'll let you come to your own conclusion on that one.

All in all, it was time well spent getting to visit with Kronk and his pals again but it's a sequel and it's strong enough to stand on it's own only as a sequel. If it was an original film with no back-story to fall back on, it would be a weaker attempt at entertainment.

Fun movie, very entertaining - story could have been better...