The Rugrats Movie (1999, VHS)

I don't know how they do it. The parents, that is. They never fail to lose these cute little kids. In this movie they've done it again. Are they ever going to learn that Grandpa Lou cannot stay awake for more than five minutes? I would hope by now they would have gotten it, but then again, Tommy is still one and none of the other kids have gotten any older, either. In essence, I'm saying this is just a cartoon.

Off to the review.

This really is a cute movie. It starts out before the delivery of the newest addition to the Pickle's family, Dylan Prescot, otherwise known as Dyl. Dyl Pickles, get it. . The "sprouts" are doing their thing and loving life. Little do they know that it's all about to change when Tommy takes his chocolate coin to the "hopsticle" to buy his new baby sister. This is one thing I love about The Rugrats Movie and the television show. The angle of the children's perspective.

Of course, Dylan isn't a sister and life changes a bit for the rugrats. Dylan won't stop crying, Didi and Stu are too busy carrying for Dyl to give Tommy the attention that he wants, the rugrats are aggravated, and Angelica can't watch television with that baby "squawking". So, as any good friend would, Lilith devises a plan to take Stu's newest toy, The Reptar Wagon, back to the hopsticle to get his monies back. Afterall, it's money back guarantee!

What happens after that would be tragic if this were real-life, but it's not, it's only a cartoon so it ends up being funny. The rugrats get lost in the woods with the infant Dyl and a diaper bag with only diapers and baby food. They finally decide that the best way to get home is look for the lizard. The lizard, you might ask. Yes, you know, the lizard. The guy with the big pointy hat that grants wishes. Along the way they run across an escaped monkey circus and the monkeys get a hold of Dylan. Chuckie is frustrated at Tommy, for not being the friend he thinks he should be. Tommy is frustrated at Dylan for just being there. Lillith and Phillip just want to go find the lizard and get home, WITHOUT Dyl. The kiddies separate. Chuckie, Lilith and Phil going off to look for the lizard and Tommy off to search for Dyl.

The heart-warming part comes in when Tommy and Dyl settle their differences and realize that they are brothers. Chuckie and the rest of the gang show up to recruit Tommy and Dyl back into the club. They are friends. Nothing can break the binds of a friendship and this movie does show that.

Eventually, Angelica catches up to them. She went after them to save their precious baby lives. No. That's a lie. This is Angelica we're talking about. She goes after them to reclaim her stolen Cynthia that Dyl took a fancy to.

All does turn out in the end and a nice message is put across, too. Things to do change. A new family member, especially an infant is hard to adjust to. They do take Mom and Dad's time at first. However, that means another person to play with, to share with, to love and be loved from. Tommy learns this along the way. Chuckie also learns that Tommy can love his brother and still love him, too. A great message that love has no limits. Your love will grow to accomodate all the people you love.

There isn't any violence and children won't really realize the seriousness of being lost in the woods all alone. I am sitting there crying and my daughter is looking at me like I've got ten heads. Still, I had to reinforce that she is to NEVER go exploring anywhere without me. I think it's a great movie, as usual I suggest that parents watch with their kids.