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The Scourge  
 

07/21/00- Updated 09:43 AM ET

 

'Pokémon' makes millennial return

By Mike Clark, USA TODAY

Though the critical drumroll for the second Pokémon ( out of four) feature in eight months won't destroy your hearing, do recall that November's lead-in amassed $31 million on its opening weekend. It makes you wonder what this livelier (if also longer and repetitious) follow-up might do.

An effete Bondian villain tries to alter weather patterns, a threat immediately sensed by Pokémon creatures attuned to ecological tinkering. Best are the three cool Pokémon birds that emit flames and electrical currents — easy standouts over the dialogue ("chill out" and "dorky") and the 4-1 ratio of words spoken to lip movements. Watching the human characters speak is a lot like watching a really rotten ventriloquist.

As before, a demented short precedes, and it co-stars Pikachu and some nested eggs with moving happy faces. As a nudging colleague commented: "What do you have to smoke to understand this?" (Rated G)

 





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