Revved Up 'El Dorado' By Desson Howe Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, March 31, 2000

A treasure map leads Tulio and Miguel into a series of misadventures. (DreamWorks)

In fact, in some places, this PG-rated family movie might get a little too lively for the younger set. I speak of some sexually suggestive business that flares up between a buxom local gal from El Dorado named Chel (voice of Rosie Perez) and the two main characters, Tulio and Miguel voiced by Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh, respectively.

I also refer to a scary finale that features a large man-eating creature who threatens to mince our humble heroes into Conquistador Helper.

Tulio and Miguel, a couple of two-bit thieves living hand-to-mouth in 16th-century Spain, know they've struck gold when they get hold of a treasure map to El Dorado.

Through a combination of mishaps and good luck, they get a free ride to South America by stowing away on the ship of Cortes, the great Spanish explorer, who's headed for the same destination.

With the help of a clever horse name Altivo, they journey to the legendary city where the gold glistens – and their troubles begin. The citizens of El Dorado believe these pale-skinned visitors are gods and allow Tulio and Miguel to rule the city and claim its considerable supply of treasures. The scam artists are only too glad to play along. But the high priest Tzekel-Kan (voice of Armand Assante) has his suspicions about these two, whose omniscience seems a trifle tentative. In desperation, the fake gods team with Chel, a savvy, va-va-voomy local, who offers to become their ally for a cut of that gold. Tulio and Miguel's plan, to leave with as much gold as possible, falls apart. Miguel is starting to like the place. Power-hungry Tzekel-Kan plots their demise. And Cortes and his troops are marching toward the city with the same greedy intentions. "El Dorado," masterminded by DreamWorks co-titan (and former Disney baron) Jeffrey Katzenberg, is an exciting experience, thanks to a suspense-filled story line and dazzling visuals. There are brilliant images of the fabulous city, spectacular waterfalls and sea storms, thanks to an ingenious combination of traditional and 3-D computer-generated animation. And if the tension proves too much for the really young, it'll make for greater interest among older children – I'd say 8 years old and above.

Of course, parents will have to consider that naughty stuff, which – in my opinion – is a completely unnecessary element. I mean, who needs Tulio and Miguel slavering over Chel's curves in a movie like this? Why mess up the lucrative possibilities of a G-rated movie? At any rate, the adults in the audience – now used to some kind of entertainment, thanks to all those Robin Williams roles in Walt Disney movies – should get a kick out of the comical routines between Tulio and Miguel. Kline and Branagh, both good comedians, put a lot of zest into their roles, which makes this plundering mission more than just diverting.

THE ROAD TO EL DORADO (PG, 83 minutes) – Contains sexual suggestiveness and a scary monster.