It's been almost a decade since everyone's favorite bunch of toddlers were crawling around the animation studios at Nickelodeon. And longer still since we saw the Rugrats on the big-screen. Well, it seems like the long wait is finally over because Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil and Angelica are all coming back to theaters and this time in glorious live-action. Here's the red-band trailer for the Rugrats movie. Wait. What? Red-band trailer? I guess they have really grown up since their last adventure.
Of course, there isn't a real Rugrats movie in production that would actually require a red-band trailer. Writer/director Ryan Perez has taken more than a few liberties in adapting the beloved children's cartoon from Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain, the biggest might be the desire to make it "the most disturbing film ever made." I don't think I'd go that far (Salò anyone?) but he does offer a pretty unique take on some of our favorite childhood characters. Poor Grandpa Pickles.
The parody trailer is pretty good and for some reason really reminds me of Danny Boyle's Trainspotting. The use of Rugrats theme and titles - as well as the funny send-up to Nickelodeon at the very beginning - is very effective in creating the uncanny atmosphere to go along with the trippy visuals. Brought in to play the toddlers were Arrested Development's Alia Shakwat and Mae Whitman, Parenthood's Sarah Ramos and Ceremony's Michael Angarano. I'm not entirely sold on Angarano's Tommy Pickles but do the two ladies from AD kill it or what? Whitman nailed the sinister Angelica laugh and Shakwat is amazing as Chuckie. All that seems to be missing is Spike... oh, and where was Susie to keep Angelica in line? Perhaps she's holding out for the sequel.
