GO, GO, (GO AWAY) `GADGET'.Byline: Mark Caro Chicago Tribune Chicago Tribune Daily newspaper published in Chicago. The Tribune is one of the leading U.S. newspapers and long has been the dominant voice of the Midwest. Founded in 1847, it was bought in 1855 by six partners, including Joseph Medill (1823–99), who made the paper Inspector Gadget is a bionic A machine that is patterned after principles found in humans or nature; for example, robots. It also refers to artificial devices implanted into humans replacing or extending normal human functions. See biomimicry. crime-fighter who's part Erector Set Erector Set is the trade name of a toy construction set that was wildly popular in the United States during much of the 20th century. Like Meccano, it consists of collections of small metal beams with regular holes for nuts, bolts, screws, and mechanical parts such as pulleys, , part novelty store inventory, part Matthew Broderick. Various doohickeys, like a lighter and lock-picker, flip out Verb 1. flip out - react in an excited, delighted, or surprised way; "he flipped when he heard that he was accepted into Princeton University" flip react, respond - show a response or a reaction to something 2. of his finger sockets; his head can spring high into the air; his hat sprouts sprout v. sprout·ed, sprout·ing, sprouts v.intr. 1. To begin to grow; give off shoots or buds. 2. To emerge and develop rapidly. v.tr. helicopter propellers or an umbrella; and toothpaste toothpaste, n See dentifrice. , for no apparent reason, can spritz out of his body. The movie named after him (and the cartoon series A cartoon series is a set of regularly presented animated television programs created or adapted for television broadcast with a common series title, usually related to one another. ) shares his built-from-random-parts quality, but it's not the product of some inspired scientist. It's merely product. Commercials director David Kellogg got the call from Disney to oversee ``Inspector Gadget,'' and no wonder. The movie is little more than an 80-minute advertisement for itself - as well as a slew of other brand names. In ``Inspector Gadget,'' the out-of-the-theater realities overwhelm the cartoonish, candy-colored city setting. The movie feels like a demonstration reel for toys, action figures and future DisneyQuest installations. First we see all of the cool things Inspector Gadget can do when he says the catchy, try-it-at-home phrase ``Go, go, Gadget!'' Then we're introduced to the Gadgetmobile, a Disney-esque Bond car that talks (with the jive-talking banter of D.L. Hughley), sprays oil and other materials at pursuing vehicles, drops a cage onto baddies in the back seat and features prominent dispensers for soft-drink brands (the ones with which Disney consistently has tie-ins), a fast-food chain (more tie-ins) and candies that spill into the car and get mentioned by name. John Brown (Broderick) is a security guard who longs to be a police officer and has a crush on Brenda (Joely Fisher of TV's ``Ellen''), the bouncy daughter of a scientist (Rene Auberjonois) who has discovered how to create fully functional body parts. When evil businessman Sanford Scolex scolex /sco·lex/ (sko´leks) pl. sco´leces, sco´lices [Gr.] the attachment organ of a tapeworm, generally considered the anterior, or cephalic, end. sco·lex n. pl. (Rupert Everett) smashes into the professor's headquarters, kills him and steals his experiments, John chases the getaway car getaway car n the thieves' getaway car → el coche en que huyeron los ladrones getaway car n → voiture prévue pour prendre la fuite and winds up getting blown up. He awakens to find that Brenda has applied her father's formulas to turn him into a prototype semi-robotic police officer. The visuals are eye-grabbing, the script has occasional moments of wit, and it's a kick, at least at first, to see how many cockamamie gizmos could be built into Inspector Gadget. Yet the overall look and the inspector's whiz-bang transformations owe a massive debt to ``The Mask,'' and that movie had the benefit of Jim Carrey's wild inventiveness. THE FACTS The film: ``Inspector Gadget'' (PG; (mild swearing and abundant, but not bloody, violence). The stars: Matthew Broderick, Rupert Everett and Joely Fisher. Behind the scenes: Directed by David Kellogg. Written by Kerry Ehrin and Zack Penn. Released by Buena Vista Pictures. Running time: One hour, 15 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: Two stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Matthew Broderick springs - literally - into action in Disney's ``Inspector Gadget.'' |
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