beeftony Reviews

Kim Possible: So the Drama (2005 TV Movie)

If James Bond Were A Teenage Girl

[10/10 · 27 November 2006]

"Kim Possible: So The Drama" contains some of the best references to James Bond in recent memory, and in terms of parodying is right up there with "Austin Powers". This is apparent right after the first couple of minutes, which follows the pattern that Bond movies have used since "From Russia With Love": a short opening scene followed by a title sequence (Though I must say, I'm not a big fan of the "Call Me Beep Me" remix featured. I wish Disney would look outside itself for music).

Another tribute to 007 is found in Drakken's lair when Shego returns with only the jacket of the man that she was supposed to capture. "You have failed me for the last time," is a direct quote from Ernst Stavro Blofeld, leader of SPECTRE and Bond's arch-nemesis (which makes it all the more fitting that Drakken is the one who says it). The ensuing scene is a reference to the numerous Q-Labs scenes in Bond movies, which entail carrying on a conversation while the equipment in the background is being tested and often malfunctioning.

Kim's laser lipstick alludes to Bond's laser watch in "Goldeneye." In fact, Wade, who supplies the gadgets, is Kim's version of Bond's Q.

The reference that I defy anyone to have noticed prior to reading this is that the suit that Drakken wears after taking over Bueno Nacho is a sly nod to the one worn by Jimmy (not James) Dean as Willard Whyte in "Diamonds Are Forever." In fact, the Bueno Nacho HQ looks strikingly similar to the casino in that movie.

The numerous homages to James Bond are not surprising. The premise of the show itself, in fact, leads one to wonder if series creators Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle created the show as an answer to the question: "What if James Bond were a teenage girl?"

Kim Possible (2002–2007)

The Best Show on The Disney Channel

[10/10 · 27 November 2006]

Kim Possible is easily the best show on the Disney Channel, and among the best on television. The show follows the exploits of teen hero Kim Possible and her partner Ron Stoppable. Her tagline "She can do anything" becomes more and more true with every episode. Those who complain about the rampant clichés are missing the point. This is satire, for crying out loud; it's supposed to be cliché. The villains would feel right at home in any Bond movie. The whole premise of the show, in fact, leads one to wonder if show creators Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle asked the question: "What if James Bond were a teenage girl?" This is truly an all-star cast: Christy Carlson Romano (Ren Stevens from "Even Stevens") as Kim, Will Friedle (Terry McGinnis from "Batman Beyond") as Ron, Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) as Rufus, Ron's pet naked mole rat,Tahj Mowry (the kid from "Smart Guy") as Wade, the supergenius who runs Kim's website, Gary Cole (Bill Lumbergh from "Office Space") as Kim's Dad, Jean Smart (Sherry Regan From "The District") as Kim's Mom, Patrick Warburton (Joe from "Family Guy") as the overly strict teacher Mr. Barkin, John DiMaggio (Bender from "Futurama") as Dr. Drakken, Kim's arch-foe, Nicole Sullivan (of "MADtv" fame) as Shego, Dr. Drakken's assistant and Kim's negative, and even Ricardo Montalban as Senor Senior Senior. Not to mention guest appearances by Tara Strong (Timmy from "The Fairly OddParents"), Adam West (an incredibly good sport who appears in the show's parody of Batman), Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson), Brad Garrett (Robert from "Everybody Loves Raymond"), Richard Kind, Rob Paulsen (Raphael from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"), Nestor Carbonell, Patton Oswalt (Spence from "The King of Queens"),Brian Posehn (Kevin from "Just Shoot Me"), Phil LaMarr, Felicity Huffman, Fred Willard, Elliot Gould, Debbie Reynolds, and, my personal favorite, John C. McGinley (Dr. Cox from "Scrubs").

While all of this star-power is certainly admirable, it is the clever writing and hilarious parodies that push this show over the top. Like snowflakes, no two episodes are truly alike. Never once did I feel as though I were watching the same episode (except in the case of endless reruns that Disney seems compelled to run).

The only complaint I have with this show (and this is a shot at Disney Execs who control the order in which the episodes air, not the writers) is continuity. Not that I scrutinize each frame, but there are certain errors that show up in the show's plot. The examples are too numerous to list. While this is a relatively minor concern, the fact that the shows often try to build off of each other like a continuous story is hindered by the fact that the Execs run them in a different order than the writers had intended.

Still, this doesn't change the fact that Kim Possible is just plain fun to watch. My favorite part of the show is the jokes that appeal to every age group, something that Disney has previously only accomplished with its movies. This alone cements Kim Possible as the finest show on the Disney Channel.