All the other galaxies will be green with envy! In this all-new
Futurama extravaganza, mankind stands on the brink of a wondrous
new Green Age. But ancient forces of darkness, three years older
than time itself, have returned to wreak destruction. Even more
shocking: Bender's in love with a married fembot, and Leela's on
the run from the law - Zapp Brannigan's law! Fry is the last hope
of the universe... so if you're in the universe, you might want
to think about going somewhere else. Could this be the end of the
Planet Express crew forever? Say it ain't so, meatbag! Off we go,
Into the Wild Green Yonder!
.com
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Matt Groening’s sci-fi adventure/comedy series Futurama comes to
a typically absurd close with In the Wild Green Yonder, the
fourth in a series of direct-to-DVD series that followed in the
wake of the animated series’ cancellation in 2003. Yonder keeps
in the kitchen-sink tradition of the show and features by
cramming as many pop culture references as possible into its
already convoluted plotline, from cameos by Family Guy’s Seth
MacFarlane and Snoop Dogg to riffs on eco-terrorism, The View and
television poker tournaments. All are interwoven into the
feature’s main storylines, which concern Fry’s sudden ability to
read minds, a massive, environmentally unfriendly rebuild of Mars
Ve by Amy’s parents, and Leela’s admission into a group of
radical eco-minded protestors who to bring that project to a
halt. And if that’s not enough, there’s a threat to the universe
as a whole from the Dark Ones, and the summation of various
character arcs, including the long-simmering relationship between
Fry and Leela. Obviously, In the Wild Green Yonder isn’t the
place to start for first-time Futurama visitors; its immense cast
of characters--which in one scene, swell to over 250 from the
show’s entire network run and all of the features--and elaborate
(if ridiculous) mythology will most likely leave most newcomers
scratching their heads. Longtime fans, however, will appreciate
the return of so many favorite personalities, including Zapp
Brannigan and the mysterious No. 9, as well as the wrap-up of
sorts provided by the conclusion (although, in typical fashion,
it leaves room for a series return or another feature). The humor
is spotty in places--Bender’s Big Game remains the best blend of
comedy and storyline of the four features--but there are enough
laughs to keep die-hards happy. The wealth of special features
should accomplish that goal as well; the audio commentary by
Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, and members of the
cast and production team is lively and full of anecdotes, while
making-of featurettes provide a tour of the Futurama production
offices, a gander at guest star Penn Jillette his
cameo, and tips on drawing various characters. The most offbeat
and amusing extras are faux PSAs from Bender and Zapp Brannigan
(on movie theater etiquette and romance, respectively), and the
producers’ field trip to a zero gravity simulator. --Paul Gaita
Stills from Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (Click for
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