Review: Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm

Overview:

Frylock, Master Shake, Meatwad, and Carl are back and better than ever as they fight the corporate overlord Amazin’, led by tech mogul Neil and his trusty scientist sidekick, Elmer. 

Our Take:

Aqua Teens in full hunger force fighting shape-shifting aliens? Check. Aqua Teen Forever song from Run The Jewels? Check. Space Jam parody featuring former NBA all-star Shawn Kemp? You bet your ass that’s a check. And that’s all in just the first 5 minutes! Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm is a wild ride that pulls out all of the stops and does not slow down, even for a beer or two. Like Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie For Theaters, Plantasm manages to capture the magical essence of the show and stretch it into a full-length film without spoiling the meal. It’s not perfect, but it hits the spot. 

Although it’s been a while since we’ve last seen our favorite fast-food friends in action, creators Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro have not missed a step. Chaotic, free-flowing, and always crass, Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm may seem like a cash grab, but true Aqua Teen fans will certainly appreciate what’s been cooked up for us on screen. Very little of the story… dialogue…or character actions make actual sense, and that’s what makes it so good. 

When the dust settles after the opening sequence, we find Meatwad, Frylock, and Master Shake each on their separate journeys. Okay, maybe not journeys, but they are undoubtedly separate. While Master Shake and Meatwad are each down on their luck and out on the streets, Frylock (AKA Phoenix) has found himself at a job for Amazin’, which is totally not a stand-in for Amazon. There, he befriends Amazin’ founder Neil (Peter Serafinowicz) who is an eccentric man of normal height. Neil is a conglomeration of today’s most well-known billionaires with all of their quirks.

Those quirks are what sets the story into motion and puts the plant in Plantasm. When Neil’s sidekick, Elmer (Paul Walter Hauser) is spurned and tossed aside, he unleashes an unstoppable army of plant-based beings that threaten to consume the entire state of New Jersey. Thankfully, the world’s most dangerous team of sentient fast food warriors, and Carl, are ready for the fight. 

With erotic scenes that showcase a vulnerable Carl, explosive battle scenes with intense violence, and oh yeah, forth-wall-breaking rants from our favorite moon-dwelling antagonists, Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm does not skimp on the helpings of gut-busting laughs. There’s a lot to love about this movie, even though some plot points went nowhere and conflicts simply fizzled out rather than being addressed. 

Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm is funny, it’s violent, and it feels made to order for fans of the franchise. There is also the underlying charm that has allowed Aqua Teen the ability to keep serving up fresh hijinks for the past 20 years. Through all of Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm’s keystone vulgarity and debauchery, there is actually an entirely new layer of even more vulgarity and debauchery. And yes, that new layer is entertaining as hell.