Inspector Gadget (Promo)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

With Inspector Gadget we have reached another cartoon that has been transformed into a big budget special effects spectacle. And combining the music for the ongoing feast is John Debney, a composer that has worked on multiple occasions with Disney. Debney is still capable of hitting the right spot when it comes to movie scoring and this has happened again with Inspector Gadget, using the illustrious main theme of the cartoon and with great effect. Though not used in every part of action or adventure which is good, because Debney can use other themes and mainly he has the opportunity to concentrate on the better melodic approach instead of the Mickey mouse scoring way. In every case, this score listens better and easier then Hocus Pocus, which I thought would be in the same manner. No, Inspector Gadget has its own form, its key style and its solid entertainment. Still, where Inspector Gadget fails in is hitting the fun in the bulls eye of music entertainment.

The playful and cartoonish nature is presented in its ultimate form during the main theme of Inspector Gadget 'Main Titles', combining sound effects and the women's chant of the well known "Go Gadget Go" into the mix of Debney's score. 'Scolex Approaches' combines the beat and pumping background score of Men in Black's chase music and between it the use of James Horner's swordfight motif straight from Casper. Debney's use and difference in main themes for Inspector Gadget as Claw are both presented in 'The Operation' and 'Scolex Becomes Claw'. While the electronic wacky sound effects of Gadget represent the awesome collection of gadgets, there is the piano medley for Gadget's nemesis. The problem is actually with most promo's the extensive use of shorter tracks and resulting in track numbers going up to 30 and so on. Debney has to keep the energy at a serious pace but these short cues interfere with this and while they are good, they are too short to fully enjoy them.

This score is such an example of containing good music but missing vital highlights, like the use of the Mission Impossible main theme in 'Heroic Mission'. This is all good music and one can only wonder how Debney can write such adventurous music for such a wacky movie. Still, while I enjoy it as good music, it doesn't contain enough highlights. Of course the action adventure and that combined with the Gadget theme are the best examples of highlights, witnessed in 'New Car / Gadget Takes a Spin', one of the best tracks on the score 'Rocket Ride', 'Battle on the Bridge', 'Penny Sneaks In / Gadget Battles Robo' and 'Gadget Saves Brenda'. Inspector Gadget will be a blast for those who enjoyed the movie as the cartoon. And those that favor Debney's big style approach will more then ever find their taste in this one. This score is good adventure music and with multiple variations on the main theme you have enough material to fully enjoy this score. But I can not be overly enthusiastic about it because I expected frankly more, or I wished more. Inspector Gadget is better listening material then Hocus Pocus, but that score would beat this one if it had the same melodic style. "Go Go Gadget Chopper, Go Go John Debney" I would say.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Titles (1.27)

2. John Brown Saves The Day (2.41)

3. Experimental Foot (1.49)

4. Scolex Approaches (3.55)

5. Scolex Revealed (1.02)

6. Penny Goes To The Hospital (0.47)

7. The Operation (0.27)

8. Scolex Becomes Claw (1.52)

9. Waking Up As Gadget (1.10)

10. Between Man And Machine (1.15)

11. Scolex's Grand Plan (1.24)

12. Gadget Suit Revealed (0.53)

13. Fun In The Park (0.33)

14. Meditation Exercise (1.08)

15. New Car / Gadget Takes A Spin (2.39)

16. Convict's Chase (1.55)

17. Get My Tuxedo (0.57)

18. John Brown's Daydream (1.01)

19. Tango (2.11)

20. Birth Of Robo-Gadget (3.25)

21. Heroic Mission (3.41)

22. Stealing The Foot (1.26)

23. Lights Out For Gadget (2.30)

24. Searching For Gadget (0.25)

25. Robo-Gadget Appears (1.01)

26. Gadget Re-Born (1.01)

27. Rocket Ride (3.13) Excellent Track

28. Battle On The Bridge (2.04)

29. Penny Sneaks In / Gadget Battles Robo (2.41)

30. Gadget Saves Brenda (4.14)

31.The Kiss / Scolex Captured (1.20)

32. Happy Ending (1.23)

33. Swingin' Gadget (0.57)

34. Gadget Theme Song (1.12)

Total Length: 60.57

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: John Debney ===