Gen 13 (1999) (V)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Kevin Altieri

Writers:

J. Scott Campbell (creator)
Jim Lee (story) ...

Genre:

Action | Animation | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Caitlin Fairchild, a teenager offered a place in an institute for gifted children. She soon learns that the school isn't really a school...

Plot Keywords:

Teenage Superhero | Super Power | Mentor | Teen | Based On Comic

Cast

Alicia Witt	...	Caitlin Fairchild (voice)
John de Lancie	...	Colonel John 'Jack' Lynch (voice)
Elizabeth Daily	...	Freefall / Roxy Spaulding (voice)
Flea	...	Grunge / Edward Chang (voice)
Mark Hamill	...	Threshold / Matthew Callahan (voice)
Lauren Lane	...	Ivana Baiul (voice)
Cloris Leachman	...	Helga (voice)
Corey Burton	...	Additional Voices (voice)
John DeMita	...	Additional Voices (voice) (as John De Mita)
Julia Fletcher	...	Additional Voices (voice) (as Julia De Mita)
Debi Derryberry	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Dave Fennoy	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Alex Fernandez	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jamie Hanes	...	Additional Voices (voice)
John Hostetter	...	Additional Voices (voice)

Runtime:

73 min | Germany:87 min | Mexico:90 min (approx.)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:LH | Australia:M | Germany:16

Company:

Aegis Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#25.10)" (2001)

Could have been better, but fun

On the downside, the animation was uninspired by the standards of other projects associated with Kevin Altieri (ie. Batman:TAS). I also found the lack of Burnout and Rainmaker (aside from two good cameos), though it wouldn't matter to anyone unfamiliar with the Gen13 comic, mattered a great deal to me even though I don't consider myself a huge Gen13 fan -- thus, I'm sure, this also had to have an impact on to anyone else watching this, seeing as the initial audience HAD to be fans.

Of the voice cast, only E.G. Daily seemed to really hit her stride as Roxy (you could hear the Buttercup 'tude shining through!), although Alicia Witt's Fairchild was endearing in her plain candor and Cloris Leachman's Helga was terribly amusing. However, I also feel that, no offense to Flea, but I never imagined Grunge sounding quite THAT dumb.

On the upside, it was highly amusing to watch the movie earn its "not-for-children" boundaries with the occasional cussword and plenty of cheesecake. ;) More seriously, the climactic sequence was worth the wait. We finally got to see Grunge kick some ass -- as always, the character is best when he stops being a doofus and actually uses his head (and powers) to help out his friends. Roxy's power manifestation was downright gorgeous -- and impressive. And Fairchild...well, she was about as spot-on as any appearance in the comics. Go, girl!

I wouldn't give this movie a high rating, but I wouldn't trash it either. It was...well, fun. Whereas I can see and understand why it didn't get a series, I do wonder if/how they would have brought in their other two teammates -- and if the cartoon would have had enough balls to maturely tackle a certain canon controversy surrounding Rainmaker after a season or two. I would have tuned in for that. ;)