Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsTHE BARE BONES REVIEW
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024
I enjoyed the film, and was really looking forward to seeing this spin-off series continue the story. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have lived up to the quality of the movie.
Firstly, the quality of the animation is decent, though not as good as the film. This is likely due to the fact that this is a TV series on a streaming platform, and not a studio film. Though it does still have its moments.
I found no issues with the audio quality of the show. Everything sounds clear and crisp, though the dialogue and delivery leave something to be desired. Granted, there was plenty of that in the original film, but the only performance that really comes off well this time around is Edward Norton's.
As for the show itself, there are some glaring issues. First of all, turning this concept into a multi-episode series seems to have backfired. I went from one episode to the next without ever feeling as though each episode stood on its own. Granted, all episodes were uploaded at once, for binge-watching. But it doesn't feel as though anything ever pays off . It just feels like one long episode broken up into several little pieces. A true sequel to the original film probably would have been the better way to go.
Lastly, it feels like the show focuses too much on politics instead of humor. The main antagonist is an orange, who is running for political office and taking over everything in sight, much to the horror of the main protagonists. The characters who agree with his policies are portrayed as uninformed or selfish. Those opposed are portrayed in a more positive light.
By episode 5, the characters are openly discussing the virtues of a food Utopia over the supposed wrongs of "Western Capitalism", and one of the judges the orange antagonist has corrupted is literally named Ginsburg. At this point, the political messaging felt so excessive that I just lost interest and stopped watching altogether.
In conclusion, the show comes off as vastly inferior to the film. A distinct lack of comedic tone, lower quality animation, and an unnecessary focus on politics leave this feeling more like an appetizer than an actual meal.
