Review of Inspector Gadget

Introduction

‘Go Gadget Go’…well maybe…

Inspector Gadget is a big budget take on the great 80’s UK cartoon series.

For the Region 2 release of this recent Disney family movie we get a DVD with the film, and well that’s it really.

The film itself is a definite family affair with no plot to speak of but lots of ‘Gadgets’, slapstick gags and an oh so slightly typecast Mathew Broderick in the title role (a shame after his excellent lead performance in last years Election). The supporting cast contains some very well know names such as Rupert Everett, Rene Auberjonois and Joely Fisher who help to carry the film along.
You also get the ‘Gadget Mobile’, which is Gadgets super car with a mind of it’s own and an ego to match.

What little plot there is, centres around the creation of Inspector Gadget and his first battle with the ‘Claw’ (Rupert Everett), the one thing that did surprise me was the fact that a moderate amount of effort has gone into keeping some continuity with the cartoon series.

Video

Well, we get a nice Anamorphic transfer with little in the way of problems. The picture is clean and sharp and there is plenty of depth in the picture.

The DVD also makes a fine job of bringing the special effects to the small screen.

Audio

We get a good 5.1 mix on this DVD with the sound suiting the film nicely; there is a good amount of sub use in the sound track and a fair rear soundstage.
We also get subtitles in just about every known language.

Features

Hmm, this disk is packed with the sum total of nothing in the way of extras :-(.

It’s a shame really as the disk is placed at that £19.99 price point and a few small extras are really to be expected if your paying that kind of money, even if they where just the kind of extras that keep the kids quiet for 15 mins, like the TV documentary films you get on Sky before the film is released.

Conclusion

If big budget Hollywood kids movies are your thing then this won’t overly disappoint.

You may not be getting much DVD for your pound or plot but the film is bound to keep the kids amused for a while.

If the kids liked Flubber then they should like this.