Kuckoo Kat: The Search for Whatzitville (2012 film)

Kuckoo Kat: The Search for Whatzitville is a 2012 American animated adventure comedy-drama directed by Arnold Lowe and written by Kirk Malone and Emily Jennings, based on a story conceived by Malone. The film is the third theatrical Kuckoo Kat movie, following Ink Splatter (1994) and Spy, Spy Again (2005) and stars "Weird Al" Yankovic as the voice of the character, in his first leading role in a movie since UHF, alongside Amy Poehler, Charles Fleischer, Jason Alexander, Brad Dourif, Matt Frewer, Jennifer Tilly, Eddie Deezen, Frank Welker, Billy Bob Thornton, Kristen Chenoweth, Norm MacDonald, Jack Black, Bruce Willis, Jane Krakowski, and Paul Reubens in other roles. The film focuses on Kuckoo and his friends venturing through different towns to get to a place called Whatzitville after an incident in their previous home of Toonopolis, while avoiding the wrath of VooVoo and his minions after he finds out Kuckoo is the last surviving "Chosen One".

Production began in 2009 as the idea was conceived by screenwriter Kirk Malone. Originally, there were going to make the film another light-hearted comedy, but decided to create a comedy-drama with much more edgy elements, making this the second movie by Gryphon Animation to get a PG-13 rating, after Road Tripped. The film had its premiere on March 15, 2012 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and had its general release on April 23, 2012, where it was released in the 2:39:1 aspect ratio. The film received critical acclaim for the story, animation, performances, score, humor, and the mix of hilarious cartoon comedy and heartwarming drama. At the box office, it grossed $992.2 million worldwide against a $85 million budget, making this the highest-grossing animated film of 2012 and Gryphon Animation's highest-grossing film of all time.

Plot
Many centuries ago, a toon by the name of Kingsley Kat once defeated a devilish creature from destroying a small town. He was eventually known as the "Chosen One". Over the years, his descendants would then become "Chosen Ones" themselves, but as time passed, these heroes slowly disappeared.

Years later, in the town of Toonopolis, a badly hurt Kuckoo rushes into his house as he starts packing up real fast, to the curiosity of his friends. He then explains to them about an incident that happened earlier this morning that he caused. Earlier, the citizens of the town were holding a party for the town's 105th anniversary, and Kuckoo brought some fireworks to celebrate. However, the fireworks go off badly and ended up injuring the citizens and destroying the town. Eventually, the town catches up with Kuckoo and tries to bust open the front door. Kuckoo and his friends run into the garage and get into their car to escape. The car starts and Kuckoo drives through the garage door, and the mob of citizens chases them throughout the town. Eventually, they get rid of the mob and escape from the town.

Kuckoo thinks that it's smooth sailing from now on, until they crash into a rock and total the car. Kuckoo then gets into a insane rant about him messing everything up and wonders where they will live now. A piece of paper flies into his face that turns out to be a map to a place called Whatzitville, where he and Smarty was born and raised before they moved away and met their friends in Toonopolis. After reminiscing the good memories he had at the town, he decides that they should live their together as their new home. The others agree and so, the four start their journey to Whatzitville on foot.

Meanwhile, in the city of Heck, VooVoo, ruler of all things evil is about to unleash his evil plan to take over the world and become ruler of the universe. However, his assistant Smedley tells him that there is one little caveat in his plan: there is one last surviving "Chosen One". VooVoo wonders who it is, until Smedley shows him that it is Kuckoo, who turns out is related to Kingsley Kat, the original "Chosen One" who defeated the great Blazespark, VooVoo's father. Knowing that his plan will be ruined due to him, VooVoo decides to send two exiled minions of his, the spunky One-Eye and his highly skilled wife, LooLoo to find Kuckoo and his friends and kill them.