'Delgo' review

(Credit: Freestyle)

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In the magical land of Jhamora, tensions fester between the winged monkey-like Nohrin and the rock dwelling lizard-like Lockni. Can the rival races be united through the blossoming romance between rambunctious Lockni Delgo (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and Nohrin Princess Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt)? Probably, especially after the lovebirds team up with Delgo’s annoying friend (Chris Kattan) and a Nohrin soldier (Val Kilmer) with gambling problems (don’t ask), to conquer an evil Nohrin Empress (Anne Bancroft). Since the bonkers cast also includes Eric Idle, Michael Clarke Duncan, Louis Gossett, Jr., Malcolm McDowell and (ever so briefly) Burt Reynolds and Kelly Ripa, it’s a shame this isn’t live action.

The verdict: Theatrical animation doesn't get more Z-grade than “Delgo,” a wanly conceptualized fantasy tale that will equal pure torture for anyone more sophisticated than the average 7-year-old boy. Apparently it took six screenwriters to come up with a screenplay lacking a single good idea. Viewers brave, masochistic or just plain lazy enough to stick around for the end credits are perversely rewarded with the film's most imaginative elements, including attractive concept art and cheeky, geeky crew titles like "Bard of Eternal Ethereal Reiteration" and "Algorithmic Sorcerer of Intangible Worlds." Maybe someone realized that's the only way to make this movie look good on a resume.

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