The script for this film is the star of the show. Every time I watch The Emperor's New Groove, I catch a brand new joke or gag that I have never noticed before while also thoroughly enjoying the classic jokes and one-liners as well ("I'm sorry, but you've thrown off the Emperor's groove."). Not only does the script offer immense hilarity, but it also develops four tremendous characters. Kuzco experiences the greatest character evolution from start to finish, maturing from a selfishly spoiled ruler to an understanding, rather compassionate one. David Spade may just turn in the greatest performance of his career in this film as the voice of Kuzco as he effortlessly makes Kuzco's dialogue legendary. Whether he is the Emperor or the llama, Kuzco is a star, both in his own mind and in ours as well. His devoted partner, Pacha, is a spectacular character, and once again, it's all about the casting. Before voicing Sully in Monsters Inc., John Goodman gives an equally fantastic performance as the peasant who is just looking out for the well-being of his village and family. When Kuzco and Pacha are on screen together (and luckily for us, that happens often), The Emperor's New Groove truly thrives.
Not to be outdone by their phenomenal counterparts, Yzma and Kronk are legends in their own right as well. This duo rivals any iconic duo created by Disney or Pixar over the years. In physical appearance alone, Yzma is a sensational villain, but when she begins to speak, she becomes one of Disney's best. Casting Eartha Kitt is one of the most brilliant choices of all-time as she frightens and entertains like a champ. Her loyal companion, Kronk, is just as awesome as Patrick Warburton provides the perfect voice for this irresistible brute. Most likely, you will finish watching The Emperor's New Groove and will immediately begin quoting Kronk's lines ("The poison. The poison for Kuzco, the poison chosen especially to kill Kuzco, Kuzco's poison. That poison?"). The film earns its spot among the Disney greats in my rankings primarily because of its characters and script. Both aspects are just flawlessly executed.
Underneath the incredible hilarity, however, lies an important message about friendship and family. Through the journey of Pacha, we see his fierce devotion to his family and home even in the face of certain destruction at the hands of Kuzco early on. It would have been understandable for Pacha to just give in and allow his home to be destroyed and therefore move his family elsewhere, but Pacha never wavers. His family has lived on that hill for six generations, and that will not end with his generation. Even though Kuzco has all the power in the world, Pacha stands up for what he believes in, and that is such a powerful challenge to all of us. Furthermore, Kuzco discovers that you can have all the power and riches in the world and still be missing something. In his case, he was missing true friends and a loving family, something he acquires by the end of the film in the form of Pacha and his family. Leave it to Disney to challenge us in such a film as The Emperor's New Groove.
This film is exquisitely wacky and relentlessly entertaining. I will go as far as to say that The Emperor's New Groove is Disney's funniest film to date. The script is marvelously wonderful, and its cast is supremely talented as it has an case for being Disney's greatest cast of all-time. In a period of Disney history that is often defined by mediocrity, The Emperor's New Groove is one of the unquestioned highlights, and it is still one of Disney's finest efforts.
Rating: 10/10
Historical Significance: The Emperor's New Groove was originally intended to be a vastly different film. The initial concept was for the film to be a dramatic, sweeping musical (akin to The Lion King) entitled Kingdom of the Sun, which would essentially retell The Prince and the Pauper story in an Incan setting. Disney brought on Roger Allers (co-director of The Lion King) and Mark Dindal (a longtime Disney effects animator) to direct the project which would include original songs from Sting. The original cast included Owen Wilson, Carla Cugino, and, of course, David Spade. The film was halfway complete when the studio began test screenings. The reaction was extremely poor and production was almost immediately suspended. Allers left the project to work on Lilo & Stitch because he believed the project was dead. However, Dindal remained as the remaining crew completely overhauled the entire project by taking it in a totally different direction. The two biggest additions to this version was in the character department as Pacha and Kronk were added to the ensemble while Kuzco and Yzma were given entirely new personalities. Only one of Sting's songs from the original project made it into the final cut, and it is the song played during the ending credits, "My Funny Friend and Me," which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2001.
Behind the Scenes: During the overhaul period, the animators were essentially at a loss for what to do with this unusual abundance of down time. Roger Allers's crew was extremely loyal to him, so when he left the project, so did they. The remaining animators were then recruited by Eric Goldberg to work on his passion project, Rhapsody in Blue, one of the segments from Fantasia 2000. Obviously, Goldberg wanted to complete this segment for his own satisfaction, but a secondary motivation was to ensure that this group of animators stayed together while the film was being worked on behind the scenes. If Goldberg had not done this, it would have been likely that production on The Emperor's New Groove would have been shutdown permanently. Furthermore, David Mamet, two-time Academy Award-nominated writer (Wag the Dog, The Verdict) called the script for The Emperor's New Groove "one of the most brilliantly innovative scripts Hollywood has produced in recent years."
Favorite Character: I could honestly pick any four of the main characters in this film and create a compelling argument to why they are my favorite, but due to the fact that I have to pick just one, I am going to go with Pacha. In the pantheon of excellent Disney role models, Pacha is one of the best. His character is absolutely exemplary even when he has every right to act otherwise. When Kuzco threatens to destroy his home to build his Kuzcotopia, Pacha could have very easily turned his back on the Emperor when he comes to Pacha as a llama asking for help. Instead, Pacha selflessly and rather heroically assists Kuzco on his journey back to the palace even when Kuzco decides to degrade him again as Pacha is helplessly hanging from the bridge. He is a much better man than me because I would have thrown in the towel way before that even occurred, but that is why Pacha is one of Disney's greatest creations. He goes against the grain in the best way imaginable every single time.
Favorite Scene: There are so many classic scenes in The Emperor's New Groove that it is extremely difficult to pinpoint just one as my favorite, but I have to go with the scene inside the diner when Kuzco must disguise himself in order to receive service. The primary reason for me selecting this scene as my favorite is due to all four of our leading characters making an appearance and making an impression. Kuzco and Pacha's interaction with one another as the waitress takes their order is hysterical, and when Kronk and Yzma arrive on the scene, the situational comedy and irony take over like never before. This entire film is perfectly wacky and downright hilarious, and this scene is the epitome of that identity. It never ceases to amaze me how much I laugh out loud during this scene, especially when the diner staff wishes Yzma a happy, happy birthday.Updated Ranking: The Emperor's New Groove is one of Disney's best films, and one of my personal favorites. This ranking may shock some folks.
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Lion King
- Aladdin
- The Little Mermaid
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- The Jungle Book
- Sleeping Beauty
- Hercules
- Mulan
- The Emperor's New Groove
- Tarzan
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- 101 Dalmatians
- Pocahontas
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- The AristoCats
- Fantasia 2000
- The Rescuers Down Under
- Fun and Fancy Free
- The Fox and the Hound
- Robin Hood
- Dinosaur
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Oliver & Company
- The Rescuers
- The Sword in the Stone
- Make Mine Music
- The Black Cauldron
Tomorrow, we venture out in search of the Lost City in Atlantis: The Lost Empire!
-Cody Fleenor
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