Disney's The Emperor's New Groove is a blast of unadulterated irreverent nonsense.

It is so frenetic and furiously funny that it's over far too quickly.

Don't fret. The Emperor's New Groove will be around throughout the holidays so you can catch it a second or even third time to savour all its wickedly funny gems.

The Emperor's New Groove is the story of a self absorbed, self-serving teenage emperor named Kuzco.

Kuzco is probably an Inca ruler but screenwriter David Reynolds has refused to name the kingdom probably to protect the reputation of Incas' past, present and future.

Kuzco is rich and spoiled.

He has exploited and ignored his people for so long he's ripe for a lesson in humility and he gets it courtesy of his scheming, power-hungry advisor Yzma who just happens to be a sorceress.

Yzma turns Kuzco into a llama and dispatches her trusty, none-too-bright assistant Kronk to make a blanket and llama stew out of Kuzco so she can take control of the throne.

As usual, Kronk bungles his assignment and Kuzco ends up the travelling companion of the big-hearted peasant Pacha whose mountain top village Kuzco intends to transform into a theme park.

David Spade provides the voice of Kuzco and his llama persona giving both a dry, acerbic wit. Kuzco is a nasty piece of work whether he's a two-footed or four-footed creature.

John Goodman makes Pacha a kindly giant rather than an oaf. There is a real warmth to Goodman's voice that implies Pacha is becoming the fair, understanding father-figure Kuzco lacked.

Goodman can deliver a comic retort just as effortlessly as Spade and when the two are sparring verbally the results are hysterical.

Eartha Kitt makes Yzma one of those irrepressible Disney wizards that have become a staple since Robin Williams chewed up scenery in Aladdin.

Kitt's gravel-laced voice is ideal for this wickedly clever old harridan.

Patrick Warburton makes Kronk one of the funniest Disney side-kicks ever. Poor Kronk is incompetent at everything except cooking. He's a master chef whose being forced into being Yzma's goon because he looks so strong and menacing.

It's part of the sly adult humour in The Emperor's New Groove that suggests Kronk is also Yzma's latest boy-toy much in the fashion of the aging Mae West and her muscle bound companions.

There's not a moment in The Emperor's New Groove that won't amuse youngsters because there is so much going on visually and it's all directed at such a dizzying pace.

Adults will be similarly amused by the animation and visual high-jinx, but it's the double entendre of the dialogue that will really have them howling.

The Emperor's New Groove is a true family film Disney's funniest animated feature since Aladdin.

(This film is rated F)

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