The Emperor's New Groove
The brief
Disney's weirdest animated comedy feels like it was made by people who got bored with traditional fairy tale formulas and decided to throw everything at the wall. David Spade's snarky emperor-turned-llama and John Goodman's earnest peasant have genuine chemistry, while Eartha Kitt absolutely devours every scene as the villainous Yzma. The whole thing moves at breakneck speed with more sight gags and one-liners per minute than most adult comedies. Perfect for anyone who loved Shrek's irreverent take on Disney tropes but wanted something even more caffeinated and bizarre.
The verdict
If you enjoy rapid-fire comedy that throws Disney conventions out the window in favor of pure comedic chaos, this is an absolute must-watch with some of the sharpest voice acting in animation. If you prefer slower-paced storytelling or traditional Disney sentiment, the relentless energy and irreverent tone might feel overwhelming and disconnected.
Watch with
- 👨👩👧👦 Family movie night with older kids who get the humor
- 👥 Friends who appreciate chaotic comedies
- ⚠️ May be too frenetic for very young children
Heads up
- Cartoon violence and pratfalls throughout (moderate)
- Brief scary moments with villain transformation (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Mark Dindal
- Cast
- David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton, Wendie Malick, Kellyann Kelso, Eli Russell Linnetz
Official synopsis
Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama by his ex-administrator Yzma, and must now regain his throne and his human
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Brother Bear (2003)
Both feature magical transformations into animals and unlikely friendship bonds.
Total runtime: 1h 18m + 1h 25m = 2h 43m
