Futurama: The Beast With a Billion Backs

Peter Avanzino
2008

was happy to hear that Matt Groening's Futurama would live on after it's network cancelation as a string of feature-length direct to video outings, but actually seeing one really highlights this proposed format's shortcomings. The writing is generally solid, though there's a weak reliance on slapstick humor. Due to the extended running time nearly every bit character in the universe gets trotted out for a joke or two, though these efforts would be much better spent in developing the story or making funnier situation based jokes instead of lame character hooks. The semi-amusing title is mostly apocryphal with David Cross providing the voice of an inter-dimensional monster looking for love in our universe. Everything here is passable, but it'll definitely make fans of the series nostalgic for the superior 30 minute broadcast. Still, you could do a hell of a lot worse with an hour and a half