Nice review. I haven't seen the first in ages, but its only memorable charactetistic that I recall was Robin Williams. I felt this version topped that. Regarding the villan, I'd argue that the real antagonist is the mission of the four characters and the backdrop of theur world--each of them facing challenges. The chemistry of the cast is what makes the film fun. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I think it's superior to the first.