Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story

Originally released on dvd as a standalone film, Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story was later added to the official episode canon of Family Guy. The story is interesting enough, it's essentially an 80 minute "Road to" episode. When run in syndication, it's split up into three episodes, which makes sense.

It definitely wasnt just a cash grab, as these episodes are only available on this dvd. Therefore, if you're a dvd collector of the series, you'll be happy. All of the same sort of cutaways and gags are used here, as in the TV show, so the continuity is there. As well as the cast and crew. It makes sense though since it's actually part of the shows canon.

It was weird watching this movie because I've seen nearly every episode of "Family Guy" and it was easy to recognize this movie as being adapted into three episodes of the TV show. Now there was enough material here for four episodes, but they trimmed it down to three in the actual show. I admit that I'm not a fan of "Family Guy", but this was still enjoyable. Besides, it wasn't really until later that "Family Guy" became particularly hated. I counted 45 cutaway gags in this movie! What's interesting here is that there are a lot of things that really do build up.

The thing was, I didn't get a feeling that this was epic enough for a movie. It still didn't seem large scale. Of course, it probably was better than most episodes of the actual show. There are lots of funny little lines here and there. I especially love the opening sequence where they talk about how they're rolling out the red carpet for a direct to video movie. With all the awful direct to video movies I've seen this month, this was quite refreshing. It has some good satire in it and it doesn't really seem like "Family Guy" will ever get a theatrically released movie, unlike "My Little Pony", hee hee. ***

That, however, is not a bad thing...to many times in these situations the people who make the show may try to do something completely different and it really isn't as good as the show, but here it is. Though really, it is only three unaired episodes of the show with a movie premier scene to bookend them. The first two of these episodes are really funny, with the second stint being my favorite, I just about died at the spider man joke and the thundercats one. The third act is funny, but not quite up to the first two. The main point of the storyline is Stewie as the three episodes sort of have the same theme to them and it looks like it was sort of a three parter with two and three being more of the loop than the first one. Stewie has a near death experience, not only that he has seen a man that looks just like him on the television and he is convinced that it is his real father rather than Peter and this sends him and Brian on a trip to San Francisco. Once there a startling (well not startling by this show's standards) is made. Very funny overall, if you like the show you should enjoy this. My main complaint is that it is supposedly uncensored...well if that is the case why is the curse words beeped out?

The entire first half of the movie is the family guy you love. Fart Jokes, Random Flashbacks, and how horses are bad people. With Character appearances such as the Greased Up Deaf guy, Randy Newman, Evil Monkey, and others, why else would you not want to see it?

However, the second half is where it truly gets into Stewie's story, no spoilers here, but you'll notice towards the end that a lot of loose ends are left...loose. Also, the ending (At least when it says "The End") is slightly lackluster. But I only noticed this on my second time through.

Other than that, this movie is beautifully done and features probably the most loved character from all the shows...The Greased Up Deaf Guy.

In conclusion, one of the funniest movies out there, but plan on sharing it among friends, because you might not be watching it more than once.

Thanks Seth Macfarlane for this freakin' awesome movie!

PS: I was disappointed that Meg's sex scene was cut out. It was so tastefully done!

Having seen hell, Stewie decides to be nice but it is not long before the façade crumbles and instead he decides to spend his days drunk. Brian attempts to teach him a lesson but only succeeds in losing Peter his "normal guy complaining about trivial issues" job on the local cable station. Meanwhile Lois bemoans her lack of privacy and tries to get their kids into the opposite sex to get them out of the house more often. Distracted, they don't spot that Stewie and Brian have joined Quagmire's Cross "Cuntry" trip in a quest to find Stewie's real father.

As a fan of the series I tuned in to the film hoping for it to be the quality of the series. After a slow start I twigged that this was really three episodes woven together with some supporting material which, as someone who enjoys the series shouldn't have been a problem. All the best bits of the series are there in the target-audience film and cultural reference (the two Star Wars ones were my favourite) as well as imaginative crudity. I laughed out loud several times even though the actual plot was consistently pretty weak across the whole film. This is a valid criticism because of the length of the film.

With the episodes the asides ("like the time I") come thick and fast and easily cover the plot to the point where nobody watches for the stories, just the laughs. However with the film the hits are spread a bit thinner and as a result it does occasionally feel a bit baggy (giggly) and I remember sometimes waiting for the next laugh. So I agree with those fans that thought this was not as good as the series, not because I'm a precious fanboy with unrealistic expectations and a rose-tinted memory but because it didn't entertain me as much as I would have liked.

That said I'm glad I watched it and it did enough for me as I imagine it will do for those who enjoy the series. Viewers will rightly feel that it could have been funnier or more consistent but with a handful of great moments and a scattering of good ones it is still worth a look.