Having seen the "Powerpuff Girls" TV show a few times, I went into the movie thinking 1) I wish I had a blue outfit like the one Bubbles has 2) it's great that little girls, for once, are the heroes. But after seeing the movie, I'm now in love. I want to marry The Powerpuff Girls Movie.

This movie is structured like the television show, with a series of 15-minute storylines. But unlike the show, the stories build upon each other, allowing for real character and plot development. This begins with the origins of Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles: the Professor, who is lonely, and tired of all the evil thugs beating up the nice, innocent people of Townsville, invents three little girls using the ingredients "sugar, spice, and everything nice." What he doesn't realize, however, is that these ingredients will also imbue his inventions with special powers. Just a few drops of Chemical X and three adorable, invincible girls are created. Meanwhile, while the Professor is hovering over his new bundles of joy, something goes awry with Chemical X, and evil Mojo Jojo, the big-brained monkey, is created as well. And so begins an epic battle of good vs. evil.

While it's a given the good guys will win, there are actually some surprising plot twists, and the slightly ironic humor is not--like some annoying kids' cartoons--patronizing and stupid; "I rock," Mojo cries after he has begun to build his evil fortress of power. "I rock so hard! For I, Mojo Jojo, have succeeded in my first, greatest, and most brilliant plan ever! I, Mojo Jojo, am the best, greatest and most diabolical villain ever!"

Being amused for superficial reasons with the cartoon before watching the film, I was worried that 75 minutes of Powerpuff Girls would be a snorefest, and--even scarier--that watching it with a bunch of five-year-olds would be torture. On the contrary, the writers of this movie have done a great job realizing that kids, like adults, don't like stupid movies.