Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002)

To me, this movie is perfection.

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Just like the similar animated movie of the cartoon series Doug, this is purely for fans of the original cartoon series. I can't really see any kids (or adults) getting along with this unless they know the original series and have followed it (the various backstories). Yet despite that Hey Arnold! (like other 90's Nick toons) is very open to all ages because its content is relatable and surprisingly clever at times.This was probably my fave Nick toon even beating Rugrats, why? Well because (as said) you could relate to it quite well. Many of the stories tend to revolve around real situations that kids deal with in their daily lives. Situations many of us will have gone through at some stage in various ways. The usual stuff like bullies, school, school projects, parents, families, snow days, playing outside with your friends, adventures using your imagination etc...Along with that is the great array of loud quirky characters which fill this world (Dan Castellaneta voicing grandpa Phil being one of the best). The odd designs for the characters is the main series trait which is admittedly bizarre to look at. I'm guessing they are probably caricatures based on creator Craig Bartlett's real old school friends and adults he knew growing up. Of course the colourful hand drawn style of the cartoon is one of the lures for me. Really rich, vivid, bold environments that look glorious. Each cartoon has their own unique individual artistic style, but Hey Arnold! is really one of my favourites. Its so pleasing to the eye, makes me wanna live in there (the fictional city of Hillwood).As for this movie, its obviously an extended version of the regular cartoon; but alas as usual it can't quite live up to the original shorter material. The plot is quite a heavy one involving Arnold and Gerald trying to save their neighbourhood from being destroyed by some rich tycoon. This doesn't really work too well in my opinion as it just seems too much of a stretch for the characters to achieve. At the same time some of the subplots by other characters to stop all this from happening also come across as a bit too daft (yeah I know its a cartoon but still). Blowing a hole in their own street with tonnes of dynamite? The whole tired spy parody angle complete with James Bond-esque characters and gadgets...ugh! How many times must we see that??The main sore point here is, in the original cartoon Arnold and co often deal with simple kids issues, as I already pointed out. The cartoon worked so well because even though the episodes usually dealt with childish things, they were completely relatable (as already pointed out) and kinda cute. So when you then give these characters tasks to perform that are way out of their depths, tasks that would usually involve adults, it loses that cuteness and relatability. Because no one can really relate to single-handedly taking down huge corporations and being ninja spies.All in all it does feel like the writers have had problems trying to think of cute filler to pad out the run time. Even for a kids film its dreadfully average and predictable. I realise its a difficult problem to juggle, trying to remain faithful to the original show but making it bigger for the silver screen. But then what does that tell you? Maybe don't make a movie out of said material because its not meant for the big screen perhaps?The new characters are also kinda bland and uninteresting unfortunately. They are voiced well by a stellar cast but they just seem uninspired. All except for the Coroner voiced by Christopher Lloyd, he was quite cool. All the other regular characters are present and correct voiced by the regular cast so continuity is good. Obviously the movie only focuses on a few so many are pushed into the background. Visually and audibly the cartoons style is the same accept for the odd spot of CGI which just about blends in OK.For the fans to look at this film is to love it. Its as you would expect but so much crisper and more delightful, but that's about it really. The plot is lame, it feels terribly stretched, they try to cram all the characters into the background, and the little amusing touches have disappeared. All they needed to do was stick to a more kid friendly plot if you ask me, or a continuation from the final series perhaps. Something we (the fans) can all relate to, exactly why the series was so successful in the first place.5/10

I used to like the TV series when I was younger, so I thought if I watched The Rugrats Movie (also from Nikelodeon), then I might as well try this movie. Basically Arnold (Spencer Klein), the football headed fourth grade kid and his many neighbourhood friends and family find out that their town is going to be flattened to make way for a new mega-mall to be run by Mr. Scheck (Goodfellas' Paul Sorvino). The only way they can save the town is to prove from a story that Arnold's Grandpa (The Simpsons' Dan Castellaneta) told that there was a historic event that makes the town a landmark. With all the TV show characters, including Helga, who pretty much tells her secret love to Arnold, best friend Gerald, Grandma, Stinky, Eugene and Mayor Dixie. With guest voices including Jennifer Jason Leigh as Bridget, Christopher Lloyd as Coroner and Tomorrow Never Dies' Vincent Schiavelli as Mr. Bailey. Worth watching!

yes, the movie is too good but the movie can go live action version. think of it... Alexander Gould (of Finding Nemo) can be Arnold! unfortunately, the movie should have a love scene. Wish there's a Hey Arnold vs Recess team up movie, but hey, besides, let's give Francesca Marie Smith kudos to her good voice acting! Wish that there will be a sequel! and the show has to continue till season 10! well...the movie should have 3D and anime CGI to make the movie fun. the enemy reminds me of another movie's enemy, Dr. Benedict of Recess-School's out. the movie should have other characters from the show, like the older subs of Gerald and Helga (as in Jaime O and Olga), and Arnold's cousin Arnie. the movie needs a bit of improvement (maybe in the sequel- if it will be released sooner or later) but it's okay!

I saw this film with my sister 6 weeks ago. It's about a mean mayor named Scheck who wants to destroy the town and Arnold and the gang don't like the idea. So they plan to come up with a plan they have a party to see themselves on TV so everyone will disagree with Scheck's plan to destroy the town. Arnold and Gerald go to talk to Scheck and he doesn't listen he calls security and asks them to have Arnold and Gerald removed from the office. Eugene was singing some songs about the neighborhood. Arnold and Gerald then get a bus driver to drive them all through town or should I say the United States? Then Scheck winds up admitting he records everything that goes on in his building Arnold takes a piece of bubble gum and sticks it on the camcorder he then steals the tape and gets the police he shows it to the public and it shows Scheck burning the rights of Americans they then disagree with his plan and Scheck is soon arrested.