(Note: IMDb's automatic spell-corrector will not let me spell the title of this film correctly. It's "A S-i-t-c-h in Time", not "S-T-i-t-c-h".)
While Kim Possible (Christy Carlson Romano) sidekick Ron Stoppable (Will Friedle) learns that he must move with his family to Norway, villains Monkey Fist (Tom Kane), Dr. Drakken (John Di Maggio), Shego (Nicole Sullivan) and Duff Killagan (Brian George) join forces to acquire the famed Tempus Simius, which would enable them to time travel and finally rule the world. Can the Possible gang stop them?
Unlike other Kim Possible releases, such as The Secret Files (2003), A Stitch in Time is laudable for being conceived and constructed as a single film, telling one longer story, rather than being a compilation of half-hour episodes. However, there may seem to be some negatives with this film, especially if you are considering buying it on DVD. It only clocks in at 66 minutes--on the short side, even for a direct-to-video animated Disney film. There isn't much on the disc in the way of extras--just a very brief but cute "Naked Mole Rap" video (it must be less than 2 minutes long), and a few drawings with brief descriptions of Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable and Rufus at various ages. In terms of quantity, the disc is slim pickins.
Even when you first begin watching the film you might be hesitant. A Stitch in Time was drawn and inked largely by Disney's Asian television animation division, and is much simpler in some ways than even other Disney direct-to-video fare, or other Kim Possible DVD releases.
But it soon becomes apparent that rather than being overly simplistic like a low budget Saturday morning cartoon, the animation in A Stitch in Time is smart and highly stylized. It's very attractive visually; it ended up appealing to me more then The Secret Files. Also, kids (I would guess maybe 6 or 7 to 14 or 15) are obviously the primary target audience, so the shorter running time can be more of an asset with them.
Most significantly, however, the story and script are excellent. Writers Bill Motz and Bob Roth pack so much into the script, and Steve Loter directs the animators and voice actors to deliver such consistently high-energy, intelligent performances that the film doesn't feel short. Rather it has an epic feel, broad in scope, deep in content, and despite a plot line that could easily turn into a mess in the most capable hands (as has frequently been the case with similar subject matter in "adult" live action sci-fi/fantasy films), A Stitch in Time is always coherent and clever.
This isn't just a film for kids, although they're sure to enjoy it. Motz, Roth and Loter have filled A Stitch in Time with countless jokes, jibes and references that you'd have to be not only an adult to catch, but a quick-witted adult. A Stitch in time is full of social satire, refreshing irreverence (including towards the Kim Possible characters themselves), wonderful surrealism and mind-bending time travel paradoxes. It is closer to The Simpsons or even Ren & Stimpy in its delightfully anarchic spirit (although with nothing inappropriate for young kids) than the much more standardly paced and plotted The Secret Files (which is still a good "film", but nowhere near the quality of this one).
So leave any reservations in the dust and make sure you check out A Stitch in Time if you're a fan of animation, fantasy or sci-fi--even if, like me, you are older and have no children.
While Kim Possible (Christy Carlson Romano) sidekick Ron Stoppable (Will Friedle) learns that he must move with his family to Norway, villains Monkey Fist (Tom Kane), Dr. Drakken (John Di Maggio), Shego (Nicole Sullivan) and Duff Killagan (Brian George) join forces to acquire the famed Tempus Simius, which would enable them to time travel and finally rule the world. Can the Possible gang stop them?
Unlike other Kim Possible releases, such as The Secret Files (2003), A Stitch in Time is laudable for being conceived and constructed as a single film, telling one longer story, rather than being a compilation of half-hour episodes. However, there may seem to be some negatives with this film, especially if you are considering buying it on DVD. It only clocks in at 66 minutes--on the short side, even for a direct-to-video animated Disney film. There isn't much on the disc in the way of extras--just a very brief but cute "Naked Mole Rap" video (it must be less than 2 minutes long), and a few drawings with brief descriptions of Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable and Rufus at various ages. In terms of quantity, the disc is slim pickins.
Even when you first begin watching the film you might be hesitant. A Stitch in Time was drawn and inked largely by Disney's Asian television animation division, and is much simpler in some ways than even other Disney direct-to-video fare, or other Kim Possible DVD releases.
But it soon becomes apparent that rather than being overly simplistic like a low budget Saturday morning cartoon, the animation in A Stitch in Time is smart and highly stylized. It's very attractive visually; it ended up appealing to me more then The Secret Files. Also, kids (I would guess maybe 6 or 7 to 14 or 15) are obviously the primary target audience, so the shorter running time can be more of an asset with them.
Most significantly, however, the story and script are excellent. Writers Bill Motz and Bob Roth pack so much into the script, and Steve Loter directs the animators and voice actors to deliver such consistently high-energy, intelligent performances that the film doesn't feel short. Rather it has an epic feel, broad in scope, deep in content, and despite a plot line that could easily turn into a mess in the most capable hands (as has frequently been the case with similar subject matter in "adult" live action sci-fi/fantasy films), A Stitch in Time is always coherent and clever.
This isn't just a film for kids, although they're sure to enjoy it. Motz, Roth and Loter have filled A Stitch in Time with countless jokes, jibes and references that you'd have to be not only an adult to catch, but a quick-witted adult. A Stitch in time is full of social satire, refreshing irreverence (including towards the Kim Possible characters themselves), wonderful surrealism and mind-bending time travel paradoxes. It is closer to The Simpsons or even Ren & Stimpy in its delightfully anarchic spirit (although with nothing inappropriate for young kids) than the much more standardly paced and plotted The Secret Files (which is still a good "film", but nowhere near the quality of this one).
So leave any reservations in the dust and make sure you check out A Stitch in Time if you're a fan of animation, fantasy or sci-fi--even if, like me, you are older and have no children.