Jimmy and friends Sheen and Carl Weezer

The Oscar outsider launches in time to woo the kids this Easter.

Nigel Bell

Given the success of Shrek and Monsters Inc. over the past 12 months Jimmy Neutron - Boy Genius is in danger of being overlooked.

That would be a crying shame because it's a great family movie.

The animation might not be as sophisticated as those other two but the characterisation and witty script means there's something for everyone.

The Plot
As the title suggests Jimmy Neutron is a genius. We first meet him in a home-made rocket launching a toaster satellite into outer space.

Jimmy and Goddard to the rescue

This satellite is to cause him many problems as it alerts the egg-shaped aliens - the Yokians - to the possibility of the yummy human adults who populate Jim's home town of Retroville.

When Jimmy and friends sneak out one night to go to the grand opening of the Retroland Amusement park the Yokians arrive and whisk their parents away.

At first the kids love this. No parents, they can do what they like. But soon they miss mom and dad and want them back.

Jimmy organises a rescue mission, adapts the fairground rides for intergalactic flight and the kids are off in pursuit.

Cindy "drops her pencil" for heartthrob Nick Dean

When they arrive on the alien planet they find their folks are brainwashed and about to be sacrificed to a giant chicken god!

Can they save them?

The verdict
There's no getting away from the "families are good" moral of this tale but that doesn't detract from a great piece of work.

And the old adage of "don't talk to strangers" couldn't be put more bluntly. Jimmy's message via his satellite leads directly to the adults capture.

Compared to Shrek and Monsters Inc. the animation looks basic, but that's part of the feel, creating a 50's style America, full of post-war optimism yet embracing modern technology.

Meet Jimmy's mom and dad

The script is great offering something for everyone. For a start there's Jimmy's full name - James Isaac Neutron.

His pet robotic dog, Goddard, does tricks - one of which is to play dead, which his does so by blowing up!

Visually there's plenty going on and I probably missed loads of in-jokes.

One ride in the fairground has a play on the "show me the money" line from Jerry McGuire. The ride is called "Show me the Mummy."

The characters are well defined - there's Jimmy's dopey sidekicks who both have a role to play in the end rescue, there's Nick, who's a play on Fonzie, and there are Ooblar and King Goobot, the two bad eggs, brilliantly voiced by Martin Short and Star Trek's Patrick Stewart.

All in all an Easter winner. Peter Pan's going to get a pasting.