Inspector Gadget 2 Reviews

Though not quite as overblown as HOWARD THE DUCK (1986), this children’s fantasy comes close to earning a spot in the pantheon of unwatchable movies. Zealous crime-buster Inspector Gadget (French Stewart, taking over for Matthew Broderick) has been idle during a long crime-free spell in Riverton City, and Mayor Wilson (Sigrid Thornton) proclaims prematurely that the town in crime free. But Gadget will soon face his greatest challenge ever: Archfiend Claw (Tony Martin) busts out of jail and boasts of committing the crime of the millennium. Citing Gadget’s recent errors in judgement — like arresting senior citizens for speeding — Chief Quimby (Mark Mitchell) replaces him with a new model, G2 (Elaine Hendrix). Meanwhile, Claw has ensconced himself in an abandoned bowling equipment factory and is plotting to discredit Inspector Gadget by knocking off the Federal Reserve Bank. As Claw builds a super weapon, Gadget’s niece, Penny (Caitlin Wachs), does some snooping on behalf of her discredited uncle and eventually zeroes in on Claw's location. Having located the necessary proton laser and fuel cells, Claw need only obtain a giant gem in order to power his mega-weapon, a time-freezing device. Reduced to working as aa doorman at a museum benefit, Inspector Gadget is in no position to prevent the clever Claw gang from pilfering the priceless Rajah Ruby. But when Claw grabs Penny, her dog runs off and alerts the inspector, who's had enough! Teaming up with G2, he returns to his old form. Ultimately, Claw bounces his oversized ray gun at an overhead satellite and turns the super-paralyzing rays on the townspeople. Gadget must save Penny, thwart the robbery and thaw Riverton out of its time-freeze. While the first INSPECTOR GADGET (1999) had novelty value and Broderick on its side, this live-action cartoon stuffed with fresh gimmicks and stale gags is built around the all-but insufferable grimacing of one-trick-pony Stewart, of TV's Third Rock from the Sun.