Queer Duck: The Movie

I literally signed up at this site just to knock this lame duck out of the water. I'm almost positive the person who wrote the review "Queer Duck Rules" had some hand in the production of this film, because this was just junk. I checked it out because I saw that it was written by a former Simpsons writer, and had Conan as a guest voice...how could that not be funny? But this film just completely lacked the flow of a proper comedy. There were a couple of decent jokes in the mess though, but I didn't actually laugh at any of them. I just kind of acknowledged that they were jokes in a "well, that's not bad" type of way. Nothing worth spending money on.

In addition, the film kept on using sound effects after each joke...like a drummer in a nightclub. I guess to ensure that the audience understood which lines were jokes, and just about everyone came off looking bad. On top of all of this, the musical numbers were drawn out and tedious, which made them feel like nothing more than filler.

This cartoon runs at about seventy-two minutes. I turned it off at about fifty minutes, and I actually felt ashamed that I wasted fifty minutes on it. That should tell you all you need to know right there.

You would think, with the voice talent in this movie, that it would be at least a little funny. 90% of this cast has made me laugh out loud at least once. Maybe, MAYBE it's funnier if you're gay but I like to think that gay people have better sense of humor than this. It's full of silly puns, old messages and tired stereotype jokes. South Park has done more credit to people who are homosexual.

I have considered that if someone has a different sexual orientation, maybe they also have a different comic orientation but I don't think this is a case of humor being different, as if written in a language other than my "straight" tongue. I get the jokes, Michael Jackson looks like an old woman, Judy Garland is Queen of the Gays and Cher is just an endless source of fabulous humor. How many Evil Christian Preacher characters have we seen before? I've just heard it all before and it was funnier and better said the first time. I mean, look at the movie "But I'm a Cheerleader" about a girl who goes off to a straight reprogramming camp. Same theme but funny!

This consistently clever, though rarely hilarious low budget cartoon is suitable only for hardcore cartoon (homoerotic?)animation fans, with it's sole purpose being 70 + minutes of shoddy animation dedicated to making fun with, though not of, gays. Alienating a large portion in an already small demographic, Queer Duck does not shy away from the queer demographic in it's relentless cuts to musical numbers and continuous homophobic baiting, although the constant pop culture and celebrity gags should appease many of the students of Family Guy, South Park, and The Simpsons (from which Queer Duck's creator was first established). If one were to distill the zany scatological humor found throughout those gems, cut the resources by about 85%, and add an entire unabashedly homosexual slant, one may appreciate what this little toon is offering.

I enjoyed Queer Duck when it first showed up online. I went into the movie, however, with no expectations that I would even like it that much. I thought it was a fun hour+. The jokes and visual puns are nicely done, and Conan O'Brien played his "role" well. Sadly, many of the celebrity-driven jokes are from a specific time and place, but if you know the context, you'll laugh out loud. The DVD itself is worth watching, including the original internet videos and interviews with the creators and voice actors. All this said, if you're looking for something that speaks to the struggle to be happily gay in a heterosexual world or imparts a greater wisdom, watch "The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" or some other film; this is not for you.

This film is the cartoon story of a gay duck, his life, his loves and his adventures. He marries a diva, he tries sexual behavior modification therapy with a Christian fundamentalist, buys an amusement park, and generally lives it up.

That's the general plot, but this film is an absolute riot. Loaded with gags, parody, puns, double entendres, etc. Musical and dance numbers galore. Fabulous guest appearances by the stars we know and love. I laughed until it hurt. There are no words that can adequately describe this film, and all I can really say about it is if you like mad cap humor, this one's for you. NOT a profound statement about the gay experience. And buy the DVD -- you can order it on Amazon.

Guest appearances by Michael, Barbra, Liz, and the usual suspects.

P.S. To Wayne who wrote the pejorative comments about my review: I had absolutely nothing to do with the making of this film, I do not know anyone who made this film, and I have not received any incentives, financial or otherwise, to promote it. I saw it in a packed auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,407. No one walked out during the screening, and most of the audience was laughing as much as I was. I'll admit it's goofy humor, but duh! it's a cartoon.