"Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie" was everything that I was hoping for. Craig Bartlett and Nickelodeon did not disappoint with this movie at all. Most of the original cast returns after a fifteen year hiatus with a few new additions for the roles of Arnold and Gerald for instance. Meanwhile, others like Francesca "Franny" Marie Smith (Helga G. Pataki) and Anndi McAfee (Phoebe Heyerdahl) reprise their respective roles as well, which was a pleasure to hear. All actors and actresses were absolutely wonderful in this the film and it's as if they never left the series (when speaking in terms of the original cast).
The main plot of the film centers around Arnold Philip Shortman (his actual full name) wanting to find his parents. With the help of Helga and a few of Arnold's classmates, him and the kids in his class eventually win a contest to San Lorenzo, Argentina where they meet up with Eduardo, who was a longtime friend of Arnold's parents. While on a boat, Eduardo and Arnold then bring up the topic of Arnold's parents in which case Eduardo agrees to help Arnold with his quest. Eduardo then gives Arnold a pendent from the "Green-Eyed People." Not long after, however, we find out that "Eduardo" is really "La Sombra" in disguise, who is a river pirate that has plans to steal the "Corazon" which is an ancient and valuable artifact that would help the Green-Eyed People cure a dreadful "sleeping" disease that is plaguing their community.
Once "La Sombra" reveals his true identity, he holds Arnold and his classmates hostage in a camp, only for them to break out not long after thanks to Phoebe's quick technological thinking. With a map in hand, Arnold, Gerald, and Helga then set off to solve the mystery of Arnold's parents once and for all. Once they reach the end of the map, Gerald falls through a bed of flowers into a deep dark cave and the rest of them follow which then leads them to the Green-Eyed People's Community. Not long after that, La Sombra reappears thanks to the pendent that he gave Arnold, which is revealed to be a tracking device. His plans to steal the Corazon fail when the real Eduardo appears. When La Sombra attempts to steal the Corazon, he is shot in the head with a poisonous arrow that came directly from where the Corazon is housed. Eduardo and the kids then start fighting him until La Sombra is tossed off the side of the cliff and falls to his death...although the Corazon soon falls off the cliff as well and it is never seen again.
Feeling as if he has failed and let down the Green-Eyed People, his parents and his friends, Arnold, Gerald, Helga and Eduardo all return to the Green-Eyed People's Community and inform the leader there that they have lost the Corazon. Looking at the murals on the wall, however, Helga hatches a plan. She ends up relinquishing her infamous locket with Arnold's picture in it and puts it in the center of a tribal device that instantly cures the "sleeping" disease that has plagued the Green-Eyed People's community for decades. This also cures Arnold's parents as well, who have been "sleeping" for about nine years or so. Knowing that his parents are alive, Arnold reunites with them and it flashes forward to Arnold waking up in his bed at the boarding house. Hoping that he's not dreaming, he runs downstairs to find Mr. Potts, Mr. Hyunh, Mr. Kokoshka and Arnold's Grandma and Grandpa in the dining room all complaining about food. Less than a minute later, however, his parents emerge from the kitchen. From then on, he gives them a hug and they tell him they have plans for the day. Not missing a beat, Arnold reminds them that he has to go to school which they agree and offer to walk him there. They do so and Arnold and his parents walk to his school and the movie ends.
I should also note that Helga does end up confessing her love to Arnold with this film as well. He also finds out that she loves him thanks to Helga giving up her locket in exchange for saving the Green-Eyed People's community from the "sleeping" sickness...along with the fact that she helped him win the San Lorenzo contest by putting together a tribute video to all the people that Arnold has helped over the years. Moreover, it also appears as if Mr. Simmons is homosexual, which has been just one of many long standing rumors with the show over the years. He is seen hugging a man at the airport who is presumably Peter from the Thanksgiving episode. Creator Craig Bartlett also confirmed the orientation of Mr. Simmons a while back during an interview as well.
In any case, Bartlett has suggested that if this film is received well enough, in which it looks like it might be, then Nickelodeon might greenlight a possible sixth season of "Hey Arnold!" In my opinion, however, they really should just put this series to bed after this movie. Being that Arnold found his parents, which was one of the main question marks around the show, the story in itself now appears to be complete.
In summary, no matter if you are a die hard fan or not, WATCH this movie! You will NOT be disappointed! Bartlett and Nickelodeon REALLY hit a home run here!
On that note, I will DEFINITELY be picking this one up when it releases to Blu-Ray/DVD!
The main plot of the film centers around Arnold Philip Shortman (his actual full name) wanting to find his parents. With the help of Helga and a few of Arnold's classmates, him and the kids in his class eventually win a contest to San Lorenzo, Argentina where they meet up with Eduardo, who was a longtime friend of Arnold's parents. While on a boat, Eduardo and Arnold then bring up the topic of Arnold's parents in which case Eduardo agrees to help Arnold with his quest. Eduardo then gives Arnold a pendent from the "Green-Eyed People." Not long after, however, we find out that "Eduardo" is really "La Sombra" in disguise, who is a river pirate that has plans to steal the "Corazon" which is an ancient and valuable artifact that would help the Green-Eyed People cure a dreadful "sleeping" disease that is plaguing their community.
Once "La Sombra" reveals his true identity, he holds Arnold and his classmates hostage in a camp, only for them to break out not long after thanks to Phoebe's quick technological thinking. With a map in hand, Arnold, Gerald, and Helga then set off to solve the mystery of Arnold's parents once and for all. Once they reach the end of the map, Gerald falls through a bed of flowers into a deep dark cave and the rest of them follow which then leads them to the Green-Eyed People's Community. Not long after that, La Sombra reappears thanks to the pendent that he gave Arnold, which is revealed to be a tracking device. His plans to steal the Corazon fail when the real Eduardo appears. When La Sombra attempts to steal the Corazon, he is shot in the head with a poisonous arrow that came directly from where the Corazon is housed. Eduardo and the kids then start fighting him until La Sombra is tossed off the side of the cliff and falls to his death...although the Corazon soon falls off the cliff as well and it is never seen again.
Feeling as if he has failed and let down the Green-Eyed People, his parents and his friends, Arnold, Gerald, Helga and Eduardo all return to the Green-Eyed People's Community and inform the leader there that they have lost the Corazon. Looking at the murals on the wall, however, Helga hatches a plan. She ends up relinquishing her infamous locket with Arnold's picture in it and puts it in the center of a tribal device that instantly cures the "sleeping" disease that has plagued the Green-Eyed People's community for decades. This also cures Arnold's parents as well, who have been "sleeping" for about nine years or so. Knowing that his parents are alive, Arnold reunites with them and it flashes forward to Arnold waking up in his bed at the boarding house. Hoping that he's not dreaming, he runs downstairs to find Mr. Potts, Mr. Hyunh, Mr. Kokoshka and Arnold's Grandma and Grandpa in the dining room all complaining about food. Less than a minute later, however, his parents emerge from the kitchen. From then on, he gives them a hug and they tell him they have plans for the day. Not missing a beat, Arnold reminds them that he has to go to school which they agree and offer to walk him there. They do so and Arnold and his parents walk to his school and the movie ends.
I should also note that Helga does end up confessing her love to Arnold with this film as well. He also finds out that she loves him thanks to Helga giving up her locket in exchange for saving the Green-Eyed People's community from the "sleeping" sickness...along with the fact that she helped him win the San Lorenzo contest by putting together a tribute video to all the people that Arnold has helped over the years. Moreover, it also appears as if Mr. Simmons is homosexual, which has been just one of many long standing rumors with the show over the years. He is seen hugging a man at the airport who is presumably Peter from the Thanksgiving episode. Creator Craig Bartlett also confirmed the orientation of Mr. Simmons a while back during an interview as well.
In any case, Bartlett has suggested that if this film is received well enough, in which it looks like it might be, then Nickelodeon might greenlight a possible sixth season of "Hey Arnold!" In my opinion, however, they really should just put this series to bed after this movie. Being that Arnold found his parents, which was one of the main question marks around the show, the story in itself now appears to be complete.
In summary, no matter if you are a die hard fan or not, WATCH this movie! You will NOT be disappointed! Bartlett and Nickelodeon REALLY hit a home run here!
On that note, I will DEFINITELY be picking this one up when it releases to Blu-Ray/DVD!