Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm

ATHF maintained a consistent high quality for 15 years in air, and the recent shorts on YouTube felt just like the old series. So my expectations for this were pretty high. I won't say I'm disappointed, but moreso I got a mixed bag.

What works: First off, the animation is of notably higher quality than the series. Some fans have complained about it, but I enjoyed the higher quality animation. The first movie also had better animation than the series, albeit not to this extent. Speaking of the first movie, this one actually has a plot unlike the first one, and it's actually pretty engaging despite an inconsistent pace. Also, the intro song is amazing.

What doesn't work: The comedy is different. The zany absurdity and rambly, witty dialogue ATHF is know for is still there, but unfortunately it takes a backseat to more conventional and sometimes predictable jokes. Also, while I appreciate the effort to try something (somewhat) new, satire and social commentary is not ATHF's strong suit. The very few times they did it the series fell flat, and that's the same case with the movie.

Also, the Mooninite interruptions are funny at first but they get a little stale and repetitive as the movie goes on. However, the interactive texts are hilarious.

It's not all bad, the characters are mostly the same and there are some laughs to be had. Just not at the same nonstop pace as the series. Also the action sequences in here are brief but genuinely incredible. Plantasm is definitely worth a watch, and while not the strongest ATHF entry, it's something fans can appreciate, and it's relatively friendly to newcomers.

Like so many others, I've been a fan of Aqua Teen since the 2000s and was thrilled when this movie was announced. Unfortunately, the result was very disappointing.

The plot is certainly more focused than the previous outing, which while not perfect, retained the show's humour perfectly. This time, the audience receives a more linear story parodying the unlikable tech moguls we know and endure today, but the satire itself doesn't have much else to say other than pointing to the obvious faults and misdeeds these real life supervillains commit.

The classic characters are still very much themselves, particularly Meatwad, who is as naïve and innocent as ever. Peter Serafinowicz, an amazing impressionist and hilarious performer, is used for little more than a very good Robert Downey Jr. Mimic, which was a bit of a waste of such talent. Longtime fans may also be disappointed by the lack of favourites such as The Plutonians and The Cybernetic Ghost Of Christmas Past, who provided the show and previous film with some hysterical moments. Instead we receive a very dull villain sidekick in Elmer, the flat Japongaloids and Fraptaculans and the forgettable co-workers of Frylock.

While it was nice to see these characters again and not feel like soulless nostalgia such as Han Solo in The Force Awakens, they could and should have been used better, or at least be given better dialogue. Ultimately, I still want more Aqua Teen but not if it's as dreary as this sad, wet fart of a return.

Judging from a movie perspective, It's an improvement over the 2007 theater release, but is still filled with nonsense all the way through, which is expected from the humor of the show, but sometimes I feel like it detracts a bit from the enjoyment like the Mooninites that were funny at first but end up feeling kinda stale by the end of the film, the runtime feels a bit too short as well, but it has decent pacing. Aside from that, nothing I didn't expect, amazing animation for Aqua Teen standards tho, amazing song by RTJ as well, very much recommended if you enjoyed the show, won't blow your mind but will make you laugh.

Aqua Teen has always been a gem in my eyes, yet they can be completely deceptive. You can never expect, nor trust where a certain story (or mixture of nonsense) will end up, but that's why I love this show. This movie was surprisingly straightforward and I loved it. But of course, the trademark mannerisms are on point.

Don't look at the thumbnails for the film, you'll think it's some sort of superhero ripoff. This movie mainly plays off of the Amazon corporation, which yes I think it's a lazy step, but they make it work somehow. The main villain in the movie is kind of annoying and certainly not like the alien spider or Mr. Wong from the dickesode- he's not surreal, he's just a power hungry weird guy with a man bun that does yoga. But all I can say is that fans will be satisfied, there are epic moments for the characters, and it's amazing to see them separated only to unite again.

All in all, the movie has some of the greatest ATHF moments of all time, seriously. But the dull parts are flimsy and lame. Without them, this would have neared perfection. Oh and don't worry, the theme song is exquisite.

Admittedly it's not as absurdist as the show or the first movie, it actually tells a concise story. I could have done without all the Mooninite movie interruptions, though they were funny at times. It felt like an extended "villain of the week" style episode of Aqua Teen with Neil being a pretty funny inclusion.

Good to see all of the voice cast return, a few more little cameos would have been cool as it feels almost like a reunion since the show's cancellation. I just hope Carey Means got a better contract deal out of this one., and I really do hope the sequel bait at the very very end wasn't just a goof.

Aqua Teen could stand to return every couple years with something like this, but I would kill for a new season instead.