The Golden Blaze

A funny and touching animated family feature, Bryon E. Carson's The Golden Blaze features the vocal talents of Blair Underwood (L.A. Law) and Khleo Thomas (Zero in Holes) as the much-derided father and son duo Gregory and Jason Fletcher. Brilliant but unsuccessful inventor Gregory's efforts are underwritten by increasingly impatient multimillionaire Thomas Tatum (Michael Clarke Duncan), who owns most of the Fletchers' hometown, Quaint Valley, while young Jason is bullied at school by Tatum's brutal son Leon (Rickey D'Shon Collins). The status quo is upset one day when one of Gregory's experiments goes wrong, unleashing forces that turn him into Jason's comic book hero--the titular Golden Blaze--while also transforming the elder Tatum into Blaze's arch enemy, Quake. Assuming the role of the Golden Blaze's sidekick Sure Shot, Jason finds himself living out the stories in his comic books. There's just one problem: the final issue of the Golden Blaze comic franchise is a rarity, and Jason has no idea what sort of fate might be in store for him and his dad. A clever, engaging effort, The Golden Blaze is a visual treat, and the voice cast is delightful, including Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, M.D.) as the voice of a bored comic book store owner. Recommended. (T. Keogh)