released 01 mar 08 / last mod 01 mar 08 / greg goebel / public domain
* Matt Groenig's FUTURAMA TV animation series acquired a dedicated fan base, but what it didn't get was much respect, at least by Fox Network executives, who seemed almost determined to undermine it with baffling and variable scheduling. FUTURAMA did run to 72 episodes until it finally got the axe, and since that time has been a staple on Cartoon Network. Now, thanks to the "nerd power" of the fan base, it is proving that it is the "series that will not die" by being revived in the form of a series of four direct-to-DVD movies.
In the first, BENDER'S BIG SCORE, we meet the old crew of Professor Farnsworth's Planetary Express 31st century delivery service -- clueless Phil Fry, Bender the sleazy robot, and sexy cyclops Leela, not to mention a vast supporting cast -- confronted with sleazy nudist alien spammer-scammers who target Earth. Of course, since almost everyone in FUTURAMA is a dope, the scammers end up conquering our world, as well as infecting Bender with a virus to go back in time and loot all the planet's treasures of the past. Will the Planetary Express crew save Earth and stomp the alien scammers? Will Bender's temporal meddling destroy the space-time continuum? Will Fry win Leela's heart?
It's a little difficult to actually review a FUTURAMA movie, since anyone who's familiar with the TV series has a pretty good idea of what to expect -- middling and budget artwork with some nice computer-graphics touches, characters who can hardly add two and two and come up with four, plots thrown together like a mass car crash, and a dizzying story-telling style that weaves wildly over the road. High-class humor it's not, but it does meet the number-one rule of comedy: THE AUDIENCE LAUGHS.
It's a bit hard to believe that this sort of formula can actually work for a 90-minute movie without becoming completely tiresome, but work it does. They not only get laughs, but also some revenge with a running gag about the all-capable "Torgo Executive Powder", made from powdered Fox ... er, "Box" Network executives. Incidentally, Al Gore follows up his appearance in the TV series with a fairly prominent role in the movie. I think he's trying to put down his reputation as a stiff ... it's nice to see someone enjoying himself.
I am now eagerly awaiting ... well, maybe not eagerly ... the other direct-to-DVD installments. Who knows? Maybe FUTURAMA will actually be revived as a regular series -- and this time, it'll get some respect.
