Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius MPAA Rating: G Entertainment: +3 Content: +2

In this fast-moving, computer-animated fantasy, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies team up once more to present another fun film for kids. In this one, boy genius Jimmy Neutron (voice of Debi Derryberry) has a house full of sci-fi gadgets, including a robotic dog named Goddard, much to the dismay of his loving parents (Megan Cavanaugh and Mark Decarlo). Even so, things are going fairly well with the Neutron family until Jimmy and his friends sneak out to an amusement park. They come home to find that all the parents in Retroville have been abducted by a hoard of alien space ships. Happy to be free of parental guidance, the children go on a wild spree of eating deserts, flooding and trashing up their school and other things normally prohibited by their parents. But the following day, they all regret their loss and want their parents back. So, relying on Jimmys technical know how, the children build some carnival ride looking space ships and are off on a grand adventure in space to rescue their parents from the evil aliens, called Yokians. All the sci-fi gadgets, special effects, comical antics and adventures of likable Jimmy Neutron and his friends will undoubtedly thrill and fascinate kids.

The theme of children finding out the importance of their parents love and concern is very encouraging and uplifting. Jimmy’s main rival, Cindy (Carolyn Lawrence), who believes girls are superior to boys, comes to recognize that she needs Jimmy’s help and even encourages him in his mission to rescue the parents. However, she makes one crude offensive remark about girls kicking boys. And one of the children makes a comical remark about urinating in the shower. Otherwise, there is no questionable language and only one comically suggestive remark made by Jimmy’s robotic dog about a female poodle. In one scene on an alien planet, the children’s parents are being held captive and the aliens are about to sacrifice them to their god of wrath. It is rather unfortunate that the only religious element in the film features a wrathful, vicious god, but pagan gods are often wrathful. The action in this comedy fantasy is non-stop and often involves chase and shooting threats, dangerous scary circumstances, and minor injuries. The comical violence and scary scenes could be excessive for very young children, but probably not so for most. At the same time, this type of frantic action in movies can cause young viewers to become hyperactive and possibly require even more excitement in their lives and entertainment to keep them satisfied.

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