seanguerreso

While the animation and voice acting was great about half way through I got a sinking feeling that the movie was going to try and pivot hard into a topic that was both poorly suited for this vessel and potentially within the last 30 minutes. And of course it did but instead of being a something that could sufficiently be covered for the childhood audience in 30 minutes it was something much harder to adequately cover. Divorce.

I enjoy animated movies that contain some mature themes but this felt poorly done and the messages in the last few songs and scenes were plain awful messaging for an audience under 10.

The worst part of this is the deceptive omission of this movies content, advertised as a kids movie, but ultimately potentially harmful for children to view without parental input.

Really a shame because there is great talent in the cast and production.

I tuned in to watch a Jeff Daniels either get away with his shenanigans or fall spectacularly. We get that to a degree and the cast is great. We also however get a completely separate story, arguably disconnected from what was advertised or expected, perhaps grander in scope and screen time than the main story.

That story is what happens to Conrad, without any spoilers Conrad is a black man wrongfully placed in jail after resisting being handcuffed who then knocks out the police officer. The next 6 episodes have his story jarringly intermingled into what would have been a great show. Conrad faces all manor of troupes like, rape in jail, repugnantly stubborn judges, a glacial pace towards absolution, oh and a panicked pregnant wife on the sidelines all along.

Both stories would have held water but to mash both together so awkwardly really cost the show momentum.

The ending is great by the way and if you can make it through all the episodes it's worth it.

Every aspect of this movie was fine except the main character's voice and mannerisms which can be described as a mashup of Zach Galifianakis, Ernest P Worrell (Jim Varney), a 50s radio announcer, and a prepubescent boy. Then take all of that and imagine they are all on speed.

With that comparison in mind it is just as chaotic, breathless, annoying, and ineffective as you would imagine.

Further emphasizing the worst part of this movie are the legitimately enjoyable performances of EVERYONE OTHER THAN ONYX. The plot, editing, music, writing, and campy vfx are all fun and for the most part work.

If it weren't for the dogged attempts by Andrew Bowser to outdo himself on every scene this would have been so much better, maybe even great.

John Bradley would have nailed it, just saying.