`DOUG'S' FIRST LESSON SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO BE HIMSELF.Byline: Nancy Churnin Dallas Morning News The Rugrats succeeded when they leapt from small to big screen because they remained true to themselves. ``The Rugrats Movie'' flowed smoothly from the television episodes about life from a baby's perspective - it was just a bit longer, more colorful and, with its universal theme of sibling rivalry sibling rivalry Psychology The intense, emotional competition among siblings–brothers and/or sisters that pits one against the other to obtain parental affection, approval, attention, and love. See Cain complex. Cf Oy child, Sibling relational problem. , more involving. Doug, hero of Disney's ``Doug'' series on ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. , takes another tack in ``Doug's 1st Movie'' - unfortunately. The animated film begins promisingly with the world of daydreaming 12-year-old Everyboy Doug Funnie (Thomas McHugh), a guy with a goofy best friend, Skeeter skee·ter n. Chiefly Southern U.S. See mosquito. See Regional Note at possum. [Shortening and alteration of mosquito.] (Fred Newman For other persons named Fred Newman, see Fred Newman (disambiguation). Fred Newman is a philosopher, psychotherapist, playwright and political activist, the creator of therapeutic modality called Social Therapy. ), and a crush on sweet and sensible Patti Mayonnaise (Connie Shulman). It's a Pleasantville, Charlie Brown world, with a Peanuts-like gang in middle school (although ``Doug'' creator Jim Jinkins cringes at such comparisons; he sees Doug as average rather than a blockhead). As in the series, Doug and Skeeter are searching for a monster they think lives in the local lake. At the same time, Doug fantasizes about asking Patti to go to the Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. dance. But upperclassman up·per·class·man n. A student in the junior or senior class of a secondary school or college. Guy Graham (Guy Hadley) has eyes for Patti and bully Roger (Chris Phillips Chris Phillips (born March 9, 1978 in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He has been a member of the National Hockey League's Ottawa Senators for his entire career, which began with the 1997-98 season. ) makes life a daily challenge. So far, so Doug. And then the middle of Ken Scarborough's problematic script kicks in. A pretty blue swamp monster Swamp monsters have been a staple of comics for years. From the 1940's to the present many murk-dwellers have made their muddy mark in comics. Hillman Publications' The Heap with a sweet personality emerges, only to set off a hunt by the gun-toting minions of town tyrant Bill Bluff (Doug Preis). Under the direction of Maurice Joyce, it swiftly deteriorates into a silly ``E.T.'' meets ``The X-Files'' as Mr. Bluff, believing everyone will blame him for the pollution in the lake that is supposed to have engendered this monster, pays minions to assassinate as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. the creature. Joyce talks about making the movie's stakes ``much higher'' in the media kit. He would have done better making them deeper. And he should have known that guns - even animated ones - are grossly out of place in G-rated movies. Eventually the plot worms its way back into the appealing Doug world of teen-age angst. But it's too little, too late. It's a shame to waste Jinkins' appealing characters with the arresting pastel-colored faces he developed with partner David Campbell. If the team ever gets a chance to do ``Doug's 2nd Movie,'' the company should stop trying to be bigger for the big screen, and just bring Doug back to the essence of irresistible ordinariness that made him a hit on television. THE FACTS The film: ``Doug's 1st Movie'' (G). Behind the scenes: Released by Disney. Running time: One hour, 17 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: One star. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Searching for a monster they think lives in the local lake, Doug, left, and Skeeter get more than they bargained for in ``Doug's 1st Movie.'' |
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