DVD Review: ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force Vol. 7’ Offers More Idiotic Idiocy

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CHICAGO – The critical mind boggles when faced with a postmodern curiosity like “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” It is almost entirely indefensible on every conceivable level. Think of the funniest joke you ever heard at 3am in the midst of an insomnia attack or the haze of hookah smoke, and you’ll find the accurate equivalent of this show’s mind-numbingly stupid humor.

Launched a decade ago on Adult Swim, “Aqua Teen” has outlasted most of the network’s other shows, and has garnered a devoted cult following (as well as several detractors). It certainly has the distinction of being the only show aiming to reflect our fast food culture by actually casting fast food as its main characters. There’s Meatwad, played by series co-creator Dave Willis, whose memorable voice can be achieved by anyone who knows how to constrict their vocal chords. Master Shake (Wallace Shawn soundalike Dana Snyder) likes to randomly burst into a room while singing about the joys of flatulence, while disembodied head Frylock (Carey Means) functions as a floating straightman.

DVD Rating: 2.5/5.0

Since each episode plays like a 12-minute lobotomy, viewers are not advised to watch too many of these shows in a row, in order to prevent a significant amount of brain cells from being irreparably damaged. This seventh DVD volume of the series includes 11 episodes selected from seasons 6 and 7. As a relative newcomer to the show, I found these to be only intermittently entertaining, lacking the wit and sophistication of smartly stupid shows like “Robot Chicken” and “Family Guy.” Master Shake, Meatwad and Frylock respectively share many similarities with the Seth MacFarlane trifecta of Peter, Stewie and Brian on “Family Guy,” which by comparison, is the far more accessible show. “Aqua Teen” is pure, unbridled nihilism, in which the only point is that there is no point. The gags fly by so fast that viewers have no time to comprehend just how empty and infantile they are. As on “Family Guy,” a lot of the humor is generated from observing crudely contemporary dialogue coming out of the mouths of outrageous-looking characters, such as the Creature from the Plaque Lagoon, who has of a head full of teeth, but sounds like a member of the Geek Squad.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Vol. 7 was released on DVD on June 1st, 2010.
Photo credit: Cartoon Network

Creators Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis share the belief that since everything is pointless, nothing is sacred. Every character, plot point and gag on the show is treated as if it were as disposable as fast food. No subject is too tacky, tasteless, offensive or grotesque to attack with every weapon in the comedian’s arsenal. Unfortunately, few of the jokes in these episodes have any satirical substance beneath their cheerfully silly surface. Maiellaro and Willis seem to forget that a homicidal duck made out of condoms or a balloon possessed by Hitler is the setup to a joke rather than the punchline.

The disc’s best and most audacious episode, “The Last Last One Forever and Ever,” enters the realm of live-action, while following insecure writer Don Shake (comic H. Jon Benjamin), who’s revealed to be the scribe of “Aqua Teen.” He has many conversations with an exercise ball (voiced by Meatwad), who persuades him to murder his bullying friend, played by T-Pain (standing in for Frylock). “But killing is a sin!” Don wails. “Not in the eyes of the church,” replies the ball. If this sounds like your brand of humor, then “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” is sure to appeal to your inner-meathead.

“Aqua Teen Hunger Force Vol. 7” is presented in its 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and includes a main menu so tortuously obnoxious that you’ll be motivated to select an option as soon as humanly possible. The disc’s wealth of Special Features prove that the “Aqua Teen” creators are most gifted at coming up with funny titles. My favorite: “Live Action Behind the Scenes: The Making of 12 Minutes of Television That Changed Television for 12 Minutes.” This 18-minute mockumentary centers on the production of the now-notorious live-action episode, and exposes the tongue-in-cheek feud between disapproving executive producer Mark Lazzo and the show’s creators, who promise that, “As humans evolve, they’ll realize how ridiculously entertaining this [show] is.” There’s also an 11-minute compilation of audition tapes sent by fans seeking to play Carl on the episode (Dave Long, Jr., is the uncannily convincing winner). Carl and Meatwad offer various ringtones guaranteed to “Dumb Down Your Smart Phone,” while a brief featurette shows composer Eddie Horst directing his singers to “Disney-fy” their lyrics for the all-too-memorable “Lance the Duck” anthem.

Yet the funniest extra is the most inexplicable: a 15-minute sequel to the horror short “Terror Phone,” which was featured on the previous “Aqua Teen” volume (the first one was about a killer telephone; this one features a killer rake). Perhaps Maiellaro and Willis are more gifted at working within the realm of “Troma”-style live-action farce than they are in animated comedy. Though the short is as profoundly idiotic as everything else on this disc, its seemingly improvisational banter has a certain zing to it, especially when the lead actor gets fed up with his directions and breaks the fourth wall. Best of all is the endless ending credit roll, which includes priceless lines such as, “Based on the Novel ‘Sears Lawn and Garden Catalog Fall 1986,’” and “Giant Blue Cat Creatures Courtesy of James Cameron.”

By MATT FAGERHOLM Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com matt@hollywoodchicago.com