Children's movies can sneak by without a plot—as long as adults aren't an intended audience.

Some have even managed to appeal to adults as much as children, an extra incentive for parents to spend their money at the movie theatre. But "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" can't decide what it wants to do: frolic in childish revelry or fling out witty one-liners to tantalize adults.

This oscillating direction makes the movie more dizzying than the light-speed, multi-hued color explosion that takes over the screen when director John A. Davis latches onto his inner child with an unrelenting fist. Fast-paced for the fun of it, "Jimmy Neutron" will—thankfully—leave most parents in the dust.
But when Davis and co-writer Steve Oedekerk abandon their preteen days, they manage some genuinely funny moments that had me giggling with childish abandonment.

At its heart, "Jimmy Neutron" is a story about a boy and his robotic dog—the aptly named Goddard—and their unexpected mission to space to rescue the parents of the world who have been abducted by aliens—an "advanced civilization" that finds earth thanks to a toaster satellite Jimmy launched into space with the express purpose of making contact with the translucent star voyagers (despite his parents' warning never to talk to strangers). Along for the interstellar journey (on modified carnival rides) are the rest of the children at Jimmy's school, each one filling a particular stereotype, including Jimmy's best buds Carl and Sheen, the cowardly asthmatic and the gaming advocate.

Through a romp of vivid inventions and "what do you know, the chimney fell off again?" parents, "Jimmy Neutron" sets out simply to have fun, even if it goes about it in a confusing, puerile way. From the time spent focused on Jimmy's creations, it's obvious the creators enjoy delving into the simplicity of a child's mind and making up inventions that could work on brain power alone. And the creation of Goddard, Jimmy's ever-faithful robotic dog—with handy fire extinguisher and "play dead" trick installed—is truly a pet for any occasion, including space missions.

Davis and Oedekerk have their moments outside unadulterated silliness, making pointed observations about their lack of plot and plausibility and proving some talent is buried beneath the meandering script. "Jimmy Neutron" even sports a few clever fades between scenes, demonstrating Davis does possess some skill in his directing—somewhere. Given the chance to write, produce and direct a movie with a specific audience in mind (and free from the marketing ploys of Nickelodeon), I don't doubt Davis and Oedekerk could create a witty piece of work. But for now, the two are left bobbing out in space with the debris of their script and Neutron's classmates, more than a little hopelessly lost.

While "Jimmy Neutron" may reel in children with its bright computer animation, light-speed action and the fulfillment of that "no parents" dream, adults may expect to leave with a headache. Even though the post-pubescent set might enjoy the allusions to "Star Wars," "Star Trek" and even "Dune," it's not worth muddling through the rest of the children's scientific fantasy.

Beyond microchip mutt Goddard and Jimmy's other inventions (including the girl-eating plant), parents should only brave the theatre for this one if their children have been really good for Christmas. And maybe next time the creators will figure out making a movie doesn't have to be rocket science.

Originally published by the Tyler Morning Telegraph.