Rugrats Go Wild is a crossover 2003 Nickelodeon animated film, with two animated television series Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys. The film was produced by Klasky Csupo and released in theaters on June 13, 2003 by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. As there are currently no further Rugrats movies in production, Rugrats Go Wild stands as the final Rugrats film. It grossed the least out of the three Rugrat movies.
Plot
In the story, the Rugrats and their parents (who were about to go on vacation but missed the boat) set sail on a ramshackle boat that Tommy's father, Stu, has rented in the South China Seas. The boat is flipped over by a rogue wave,and they had to use a liferaft, which Angelica loses Cynthia,(which she later finds) leaving them deserted on a small island. On the same island, but on the other side, are the famous globe-trotting family, the Thornberrys (out to film a leopard). The babies set off to find them, for they suspect they are somewhere on the island (as it happens, Tommy treats Nigel like an idol). Somewhere along the way, Chuckie gets lost and runs into the Thornberry's Tarzan-like child, Donnie. Donnie, and the two switch clothes,and Lil banned Phil from eating bugs. Meanwhile, Eliza, the gifted Thornberry, is tramping around the jungle and runs into Spike, the dog. Since Eliza can talk to animals, Spike tells her that the babies are lost somewhere in the island. Also, her father, Nigel, sees them. But after a bonk on the head with a coconut Nigel gets amnesia. Angelica runs into Debbie, the teenage Thornberry, and she takes off with Debbie in the Thornberry's all-purpose Comvee. While not paying attention, the bumbling twosome sink the Comvee and generally cause havoc. Meanwhile, pop culture references to just about anything about castaways on an island (in particular, Gilligan's Island, Survivor, and Lord of the Flies) ensue. Also, unlike the previous movies, Susie tags along with a Polaroid-like camera in hand, and doesn't have her parents traveling with her. The film concludes with the children being reunited with their families. Photos of the families on the Lipschitz Cruise are shown during the end credits.
Production
Rugrats Go Wild was originally made by Klasky Csupo's television unit, (directed by Mark Risley and written by Kate Boutilier) but after wildly successful screenings, Paramount decided it should be shelved and remade into a feature film. The television version, a 90 minute special, still exists somewhere in the Klasky Csupo/ Nickelodeon vaults.
Among the biggest hype this movie received was Bruce Willis voicing Spike, and the use of "Odorama" cards to enhance the viewing experience, Burger King and Blockbuster released a scratch and sniff piece of cardboard that was to be scratched and sniffed during the run of the movie. There were many complaints, however, that the only thing that the "Odorama" cards smelled like was cardboard. The Odorama card was some what of an homage to John Waters' film Polyester. Despite the homage, Waters felt he was ripped off and realized that New Line Cinema, the studio that released Polyester, didn't renew the copyright for Odorama. He later said that "a check would have been an homage". [1]
Early trailers for the film give the title The Rugrats Meet The Wild Thornberrys Movie.
Release
Receptions
This film was produced by released in the summer of 2003 to mixed reviews (gaining a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes.com, one less than The Rugrats Movie, which also got mixed reviews), and opened at #4 at the box office, and ended up grossing about $39 million, about the same amount as The Wild Thornberrys Movie. The film made $39,402,572 in domestic grossing and $55,405,466 worldwide, making it a box-office disappointment compared to the other 2 films. However, it earned enough money to cover its $25 million budget. The box-office disappointment was shown as part of the results of the downfall of Rugrats's fame during the mid-2000s.
Rating
This is the only Rugrats film to earn a PG rating by the MPAA.
Home video
The film was released on videocassette and DVD on December 16, 2003.
Guest stars
Notes
The uninhabited island, on which the babies and their respective parents end up, can somewhat relate to the uncharted island on which the Thornberry Family winds up stranded in The Wild Thornberrys' episode "Thornberry Island".
Soundtrack
An original soundtrack was released on June 10, 2003 from Nickelodeon Records, Warner Sunset Records, Lava Records and Atlantic Records.
Track listing
- "Message in a Bottle" - American Hi-Fi - 4:12
- "Big Bad Cat" - Chrissie Hynde - 3:15
- "She's on Fire" - Train - 3:50
- "Island Princess" - Cheryl Chase - 2:32
- "Lizard Love" - Aerosmith - 4:35
- "Ready to Roll" - Flashlight Brown - 2:51
- "The Morning After" - Cheryl Chase - 3:22
- "Atomic Dog" - Geroge Clinton - 4:45
- "Dresses and Shoes (Precious & Few)" - Cheryl Chase - 3:28
- "Should I Stay or Should I Go" - The Clash - 3:09
- "Lust for Life" (Iggy Pop cover) - Bruce Willis - 3:43
- "Phil's Diapey's Hanging Low" - Tim Curry - 3:01
- "It's a Jungle Out Here" - The Rugrats - 3:11
- "Changing Faces" - E.G. Daily - 3:42
- "Island In The Sun"- Weezer - 3:54
- "Better Beware" - Lisa Marie Presley - 4:45
References
External links
