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No, not Schwarzenegger. It's the football-headed fourth-grade hero of the Nickelodeon hit. And even if it's not a milestone in animation, this feature-length adventure will charm viewers with its vivid and quirky characters, smart humor, and positive portrayal of a close-knit, culturally diverse community that is, refreshingly, urban rather than suburban. Arnold himself is an admirable role model. As one character notes, he has "an unerring sense of right and wrong." But someone has to be optimistic, especially when a developer (voiced by Paul Sorvino) gets the go-ahead to tear down Arnold's neighborhood to put up a mall. Aided by his best friend, Gerald, with gadgets supplied by spy-babe Bridget (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and the clandestine guidance of a certain Deep Voice, Arnold rallies his neighbors to fight the good fight and races the clock to find a document that would gain landmark status for neighborhood. Another momentous turn of events occurs -- especially for those familiar with the series -- when schoolyard nemesis Helga declares her love for the clueless Arnold. Stealing various scenes are a one-legged bus driver, a donut-loving coroner (voiced by Christopher Lloyd), and Arnold's gonzo grandparents (Dan "Homer Simpson" Castellaneta and Tress MacNeille). Hey Arnold: The Movie was not as successful as earlier Nick-toon translations in theaters, but it plays better on the small screen, where it rises above "very special episode" status. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

Everyone's favorite football-headed city kid graduates from television to the big screen in this animated comedy-adventure based on the Nickelodeon TV series. Arnold (voice of Spencer Klein) and his good friend, Gerald (voice of Jamil Walker Smith), live in a tight-knit neighborhood in the middle of a big city. Like most of their neighbors, Arnold and Gerald love their community, and when they learn that Scheck (voice of Paul Sorvino), a wealthy and powerful developer, plans to buy up their neighborhood, tear down the buildings, and put up a massive shopping mall in its place, they decide something has to be done. While the adults come up with a dodgy scheme to blow up the streets in their neighborhood, Arnold and Gerald hatch a more practical scheme, with the help of Helga (voice of Francesca Marie Smith), who can't decide if she likes Arnold or hates his guts. Arnold and Gerald learn that their neighborhood was designated a historical landmark years ago, but can they prove it before Scheck moves in with his bulldozers? Hey Arnold! The Movie also features the voice talents of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Christopher Lloyd, and Dan Castellaneta. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 097363396543
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan, Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English, Français
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 1:15:00
• Sales Rank: 16,067

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