The Powerpuff Girls Movie 2002

Critics score:
63 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Grown-up quibbles are beside the point here. The little girls understand, and McCracken knows that's all that matters. Read more

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: Powerpuff creator Craig McCracken, who also directed, might not be revolutionizing animation, but he sure has a blast with it. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: This is one freaky and annoying little film. Read more

Susan Stark, Detroit News: Count ... on the same high energy level, high noise level and hard-edged, imaginatively stylized, comic-bookish approach that characterizes Powerpuff writer, director, executive producer Craig McCracken's TV series. Read more

Scott L. Powers, Chicago Tribune: It's great fun, turning sci-fi and kiddie-show conventions upside down with a hip wink, but even with more time to go deeper with a plot line, there's not quite enough here to make it special enough for moviegoing. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: What's really so appealing about the characters is their resemblance to everyday children. Read more

Hank Sartin, Chicago Reader: This Cartoon Network feature-length animation manages to teach kids some good lessons and amuse the grown-ups without overdosing on pop-culture references. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: At 77 minutes, The Powerpuff Girls Movie feels limp, like elastic that's been stretched beyond its limit. Read more

Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: This movie is one of the few American creations that is both gleeful pop culture and exquisite high art. Read more

Roberta MacInnis, Houston Chronicle: The series' message about making the right choice in the face of tempting alternatives remains prominent, as do the girls' amusing personalities. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Those new to the series ... as well as the already committed, will dig the anarchic Chicks Rule attitude and the snazzy art. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: At a time when half the so-called real movies are little more than live-action cartoons, it's refreshing to see a cartoon that knows what it is, and knows the form's history. Read more

Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News: The movie doesn't add anything fresh to the myth. Read more

Robert Lloyd, L.A. Weekly: It is not boring, and looks fantastic, and maintains the wit and spirit of the original. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: It's a prime example of raw visual energy hitched up to the toy rocketship of popular art. Read more

Tim Goodman, San Francisco Chronicle: 84 minutes of rolling musical back beat and supercharged cartoon warfare. It's also, clearly, great fun. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Ben Rayner, Toronto Star: It's still a kick seeing the show's retro-cool, Hanna-Barbera-style animation blown up to 35 mm, even if The Powerpuff Girls Movie only plays like a long, slightly average episode. Read more

Time Out: Stretched beyond its usual episode length, the Girls' adventure doesn't pack the nifty punch they're famous for. Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: The X potion gives the quickly named Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup supernatural powers that include extraordinary strength and laser-beam eyes, which unfortunately don't enable them to discern flimsy screenplays. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: The slam-bang superheroics are kinetic enough to engross even the most antsy youngsters. Read more