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Jimmy Neutron is an example of TV's genius

© M. Fernandez Locklin

This one snuck up on me. Suddenly, my kids are telling me they want to see "Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius". I thought they had the commercials wrong.

"You must mean the TV show," I said. The quizzical looks that bounced back to me from their little chocolate eyes clearly said: "Mom's a nutcase."

So I did some research - I hate feeling out-of-the-loop. Usually, an animated film backed by a network, as this one is by Nickelodeon, has a built-in audience from countless episodes, but I'd never seen a Jimmy Neutron television show. What gives?

Jimmy Neutron, I found, has had TV experience. He was born in 1995 as Johnny Quasar, a creation of John Davis of DNA Productions. The 3-D computer animated character found fans at Nickelodeon, which has been airing on-air shorts and interstitials (little bits between shows) to whet viewers' appetites about Jimmy, his dog, Goddard, and his friends in their town of Retroville. Now Jimmy's a regular clip on the network, with a soon-to-be-released television show on Nickelodeon. That's how the movie captured the interest of my sons - a bit sneaky, I'd say, but showing a bit of Jimmy Neutron's genius.

The movie is a bit like the Cartoon Network show "Dexter's Laboratory", wherein a super-intelligent kid invents unbelievable creations that stretch the boundaries of possibility. Unlike with Dexter, however, Jimmy's parents are aware of his super intelligence and his inventive hobby. In addition, Jimmy has his own dog and a couple of friends. Those points give this character some humanity and make him a little more appealing to the masses. (I still like Dexter more, but that may be because I haven't experienced much of Jimmy's world.)

The movie, "Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius", throws the main character, his friends, and most of the children in Retroville together as they search for their parents, who have been kidnapped by an alien race of egg-like creatures to sacrifice to their chicken-like god. Although this seems to be an honorable mission, it comes a few days after the original kidnapping. You see, the children were enjoying their parent-less escapades, like Pleasure Island in "Pinocchio", and didn't mind not having to deal with parental orders. That is, until the first stomachaches and nightmares. Suddenly, the kids realized how much they wanted and needed their parents.

The gang of kids unites and boards a variety of vessels, acquired through "borrowing" rides from the local amusement park, and powered using some undisclosed invention of Jimmy's, and fly through outer space to another planet. There, they save their parents, of course, and return to earth - all hugs and kisses.