Luke and Lucy: The Texas Rangers (2009) User Reviews

Strange experience

[johnslegers · 5/10 · 8 April 2010]

Growing up in the Flemish part of Belgium, "Suske en Wiske" has always remained a classic in my comic book collection and is now a part of nostalgia bringing me back to my childhood. After having seen a quite poor live action film (although sometimes so bad it's funny) about "Suske en Wiske", I wasn't sure what to expect from this animation film.

Having just seen it, I must say that it was a very interesting yet somehow confusing experience. The plot felt really in touch with the old Suske and Wiske comics, although there's a bizarre thing going on with the age group this film is suitable for. Often the humor seems to be aimed at the level of a 6- or 8-year-old level, yet the bar dance scene seems way too sexy to let anyone who isn't a teen yet watch it (kids shouldn't be having sexy thoughts :-p). This somewhat confuses me. Overall this film seems to be targeted at young children mostly, and even if they don't get the sexual innuendo, I still think it's inappropriate.

Another thing that confuses me is the Mexican stereotype. Now I understand that this was humor that was perfectly OK when the comic book was originally released, but in this day and age of political correctness and mass migration it seems pretty bizarre to find such a stereotype in a recent animation film and especially not in a country as socialist as Belgium.

Although the main characters seem fairly loyal to the characters in the original comic strip, it still feels weird to see them in 3D and the weird mixture of target groups for the different parts of the film, the racial stereotype, the sexual innuendo of the dance scene, the strange personalities of the main characters (for anyone not familiar with the comic books), the almost satirical product placements and several other aspects of this film, I seriously wonder what foreigners would think of this film if they ever get to see it dubbed or subtitled in their language.

us DVD version is classic with a modern spin

[cathy-coryell · 7/10 · 6 April 2012]

This is a classic cowboys vs Indians concept with intelligent references that i did not catch all on the first viewing! Spoofs on several stars and on movies modern times mix n meld with wild west. Add in literary references for grownups and whole family can enjoy. Could lose sexy singer scene and damn its and it would be a ten. I do not believe it is racist at all. c It has other purpose with the caretaker and simpleton friend relationship. Afraid non USA folks r jumping to conclusions. Three year old loves it as much as Disney princess junk and i m happy too let her follow a more complex plot line that Luke and Lucy offers along with kid level humor mixed in!

If you're American, please read this before you let your kids watch this movie.

[jarne-van-vooren · 1/10 · 21 January 2013]

Okay, the title sounds weird. But apparently, this Belgian animation movie made it in the US. But what I've read from reviews from American customers, they weren't happy with the swearing in this movie. Let me start from the beginning.

The movie is based on a Belgian comic book series called "Suske en Wiske" and it's about a boy and a girl who live with their aunt and have a lot of crazy adventures. They are accompanied by their friends, a not so very bright man, a super strong caveman from the past and a professor who has invented a time machine. The series started in 1945 and is still going (although I prefer it if they stop, it is too commercial these days). It started as a newspaper comic and used topical subjects as a large base for its humor. The old comics are very loved and written in such a way that the current books in the series cannot match them. Ever! So it is understandable that there would be some related products. There was an animated series, a couple of shows and a live-action movie which I thought was entertaining as a film. Of course (and unfortunately), there would be a animation movie. This one.

This one is based on "De Texasrakkers". The author of the books sometimes used existing plots as inspiration, in this case "The Tales of the Texasrangers". The movie uses the general plot points of the book. A shrunken man, locked up in a whiskey bottle, arrives at the house of Lambik. The man tells them that he's a Texasranger and was captured by Jim Parasite who terrorizes Dark City. Suske, Wiske and their friends decide to go to Texas to stop the evil Parasite.

I have not seen the American dub, but I've read comments about it. Apparently, one of the characters says the word "damn it" a couple of times. I am not an American but all I can say is that we are a bit looser in Belgium. You can say that it is a culture shock for America because we do not mind it that much (at least nowadays) that our kids hear profanity on TV. That does not mean we encourage it though. (FYI, the original version had them saying s***.) If you don't want your kids to hear such words, don't play this movie. Swearing aside, does that mean that the rest of the film is good? No.

First of all, I liked the animation. I know it doesn't look like Pixar or Dreamworks, but Belgian movies are not that well funded. It's budget was € 8,9 million. However, its charm wears thin through the course of the movie and you start to see its flaws. A shadow of a dog, for example, wasn't in sync with its movements.

Speaking of thin, let's talk about the story. Like I said, it is based on a comic book. While the topical humor was aimed at adults, children could enjoy the comics just as much as adults. "Suske en Wiske" have mostly fantastical adventures which lend itself perfectly for a kids audience. The movie, on the other hand, was made with a kids audience in mind while counting out the adults. With a series running for more than 60 years, you'd think that the directors would have more respect for its source material. (Although if you look at Hollywood these days...) I understand they had to get their budget back (This is one of Flanders most expensive movies) but more effort regarding the story would be nice.

The other problem with the story is the villain's reveal. One of the characters' suspicious behavior was emphasized too much that you instantly knew she only served as a red herring. The villain's plan is stupid in itself. In the comic, it was not mentioned what his goals were. You could assume that he liked to terrorize the neighborhood for fun and shrunk the rangers so they wouldn't thwart him. In the movie, he has a height complex and want to shrink everybody on earth with a shrinking powder, launched via a rocket. The film changes from a Western parody (?) into a James Bond parody (The comic series had also a James Bond themed book, but it wasn't this one, guys).

Then there are the references. Nowadays, the humor in animation has to have it from pop culture references. No exception here. One of "Terminator", one of "The Matrix" (the bullet-dodging scene), and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" which I don't consider a reference as it was more like ripping off the dance scene of Jessica Rabbit. Some of the movements came exactly from the aforementioned movie. But my favorite has to be the worlds worst product placement (Establishing shot of a house, empty street, no cars or pedestrians, suddenly one truck drives by with the name of a toy shop. Very subtle, guys).

Last but not least, there's Manuel. He is the most annoying character I have ever seen in a movie. He's a stupid Mexican racial stereotype and he has a serious doll complex. Throughout the movie, he is useless, does nothing of consequence regarding the plot and is only there for the kids to laugh at because he's so silly (from their POV).

In hindsight, when making a movie based on a comic book series that runs for more than 65 years and that helped to shape the Flemish comic book culture, you'd better give it more thought. The books are clever, funny and well-written. This movie is not. It can work for a fun time with your kid (in Belgium, at least), but if you are a fan of the original source material, don't have high hopes for this one.

Does not live up to the comics

[anders-n-aa-larsson · 3/10 · 22 May 2022]

Have a hard time to understand the many negative reviews (has it something to do with USA:s religious, puritan heritage?) that complain about bad language and some "sexy" dance. This is nothing different from what I grew up on in the 1970s childrens programmes on TV. Welcome to the real world, people!

However, for me who have been a fan of the comic since childhood, the 3D and Lambik wearing a mustache, was strange. It would have been much better as an old fashioned animated movie.

And the US portrayed like the old Wild West in our century & Americans still wearing 19th century clothes. Wonder why the American puritans aren't offended by that...

Don't bother renting this one if you try to teach your kids to say nice words

[ginabowman2004 · 3/10 · 22 April 2011]

After only watching the first 15 minutes so far my 4 year old has turned to me and said "Can I say Damn It?" like the character on the movie.

I came to IMDb to make sure this movie was rated what I thought it was rated. I thought perhaps it was from Adult Swim or something and I had forgotten to read the rating.

After reading the reviews here on IMDb I have decided to turn it off.

It may be a fun movie but if there is sexy dancing coming up and one character keeps saying Damn It, Damn It, Damn It, then I feel I have no choice but to follow my instincts.

This is NOT a kids show!!

[drroller · 1/10 · 24 April 2011]

We had to turn this off after 15 minutes, after hearing the characters swear about 20 times and the taking of the lords name in vain we had to put and end to it, and now reading the reviews I am really glad we didn't get to the sexy scene. The animation was below par, and the characters were shallow. We didn't enjoy this one bit and kept asking ourselves, what in the world is this? I hope Redbox removes this from their boxes, this is terrible. I am writing this review the day after we saw this film, and my kids are still talking about how horrible it was, they keep asking me why they would have so much swearing in a kids movie.