Ah yes, another straight-to-video Futurama flick. How is it? Good (better than the last one, not as good as the first one), but a little uneven, especially the last third… Let me explain.
Basically, the whole first 2/3rd of the movie is setup for the last part, which is a Lord of the Rings/Dungeons and Dragons parody, and this setup is a subtle as a brick through a suicide booth’ window. Getting there is fun, but once the characters are in the fantasy setting jokes start falling flat.
And talk about a target-rich environment! One only needs read the classic Harvard Lampoon’ Bored of the Rings or listen to the Dead Adelwine’ “Dungeons and Dragons” to know how ripe this genre is for parody. Yet somehow the jokes only land on target about half the time. Must have missed some saving throws…
There are some highlights worth the price of the DVD, though: the demolition derby and the various vehicles that are fighting in it (George Takei’ line, which I will not reveal, made me bust a gut laughing); the dark matter “farm” was nicely realized (though I think there is some continuity issues with the backstory that is detailed in this sequence); Morbo’s talk show; and, of course, the MORKS (you’ll know what I’m talking about when you see it)…
The DVD is on sale tomorrow the 5th.