Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Yes, you can have too much of a good thing

By Eric Alt | Metromix

April 13, 2007

Despite the "Borat"-esque title, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters" is really nothing more than a 79-minute episode of the cult favorite Adult Swim show. Newcomers should be warned that this "movie" makes zero effort to open doors to the uninitiated. If you have no idea who MC Pee Pants is, stay home.

When "South Park" hit the big screen, it did so with the self-deprecating subtitle "Bigger, Longer, and Uncut." More than just a long episode, the feature was a full-on movie musical. But the creators of "Aqua Teen" don't take a cinematic approach at all.

The plotless, non sequitur–laden show is often hilarious in 15-minute bursts, but the same material wears thin when it's stretched beyond an hour (and this, it should be noted, comes from a fan). The movie literally could end at any time and it really wouldn't matter. It doesn't help that "Aqua Teen" heroes Frylock, Master Shake and Meatwad don't do anything here that can't already be done on Cartoon Network—except drop the occasional un-bleeped "F" bomb.

There are definitely very funny moments—including a pre-credits "Let's All Go to the Lobby" spoof—but overall the movie, like the show, contains more frequent chuckles than big laughs. And those who don't recognize any of the bizarre side characters won't even be in on most of the chuckling.

Tailor-made for a direct-to-DVD release, "Aqua Teen" will no doubt inspire late-night "Rocky Horror"–style screenings near college campuses, but it has little to recommend it to the rest of the viewing public. That said, if you're dying to know the identity of the mysterious fourth member of the Aqua Teen squad, consider this your "Phantom Menace."