Live-action version of the TV cartoon show. It uses up half an hour just to explain who the central character is -- "a geek from Kansas who became a security guard" -- and how he got to be a "prototype cyber police officer," equipped with all manner of James Bondian voice-activated doodads and thingamabobs, quite separate from his self-propelled talking car-cum-paddywagon. No sooner is he battle-ready than he is faced with a synthetic evil twin, identical in every detail except for its Chiclet choppers. Surely this case can't be typical, and the entire thing feels like little more than a prelude. Thus, one of the bigger attractions of the movie -- its hour-and-a-quarter running time -- fails to protect it from tedium. Its even bigger attraction, if not big enough to tip the scales, is Matthew Broderick, an underappreciated actor who is able to project an image of openness, guilelessness, boyish enthusiasm, gracious sportsmanship, and whole-souled team spirit (he gamely takes part in a tweak of one of his own films, Godzilla), all of which not only qualify him for the job of a Mr. Clean cartoon hero, but stand him in good stead whenever he strays from the path (the evil twin here, the devious teacher in Election). Such a projection from a man of his age and experience must be taken as firm proof of his skills as an actor. With Rupert Everett, Joely Fisher, and Michelle Trachtenberg; directed by David Kellogg. (1999) — Duncan Shepherd
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