TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness

As is often the case with controversial releases, the new animated series "Velma" has been the subject of blatant and unobjective review-bombing, so I suggest you take the current 1.3 out of 10 user-average with more than a few grains of salt. It's definitely not a 1.3 out of 10 show. But at the same time, I also have to admit that sadly... it ain't great, either.

Mindy Kaling leads an excellent voice-cast in this adult-oriented reimagining of the Scooby-Doo franchise that sees our favorite characters as younger, modern teens. Now, I'm sure the concept alone will repulse certain people, but I actually was pretty into it. I thought the idea had a certain charm, and the concept of a Scooby-Doo reboot aimed at older audiences is fun. (I still wish we could see James Gunn's original vision for the live-action film.)

Unfortunately in execution, the series is thus-far all over the place. There's far too much reliance on tired sex-gags and weird visual jokes that come out of nowhere. (A sequence involving a baby kicking in a pregnant woman's stomach being a prime example of a joke that just doesn't work.) And the non-stop fourth-wall breaking meta-humor can become quite aggravating at times. Meta-humor is something you have to nail, or else it comes across as shallow. You can't just have the characters make the same "If this was a TV show, this is the part where XXX!" joke every two minutes and expect audiences to laugh every time.

Additionally, even as a proud liberal who firmly believes that diversity and representation is very important... this show goes about it in the worst way possible. It just clumsily beats you over the head with it, then tries to cover for its sloppiness with more meta-humor. There's absolutely no problem with Velma being Indian American in this show, but rather than leave well-enough alone, it's treated as some sort-of grandiose reveal, and they actually have a character give a fourth-wall speech about how it's totally okay. Which just kind of makes it feel... icky.

That being said, there are some good things here, and if the show does move forward with a second season, I'm hoping it can improve. The cast does very well with what they have to work with, and the voices fit perfectly. Character designs are typically solid and the animation is decent. (Some lip-synching issues notwithstanding.) And I even think the central storyline has some promise.

But as it stands now, "Velma" is dragged down by its flaws. Will it improve in the future? Who knows. All I know is that at this point in time, after two episodes, I can only give it a slightly below average 4 out of 10. Not the worst thing ever, and some people might enjoy it. But very mediocre.

The original unaired pilot is an interesting little piece of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" history. Made in 1996 to pitch the series, this testing ground is essentially the genesis of the long-running and much beloved show. Though it has not been released in any official capacity, it's easy enough to find bootlegs floating about online with a simple search. And while creator Joss Whedon might not want you to see it, I do think it has enough historical value in the context of the franchise to be worth a one-time watch. Especially for hardcore fans.

Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has just transferred to Berryman High School and is attending her first day of class. After meeting classmates Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow (Riff Regan), Buffy is confronted by the truth-- the school librarian (Anthony Stewart Head) knows about her calling as "The Slayer," a chosen one destined to battle vampires, demons and the forces of darkness. And soon enough, a group of vampires arrive and threaten Buffy and her new friends...

The most interesting thing about this unaired episode are the differences between this early iteration and the final version of the pilot that eventually aired. Perhaps the most notable being that a different actress played Willow. While Alyson Hannigan was obviously the right choice when the show was finally given the greenlight, I will say that I do feel a little bad for Riff Regan. She surprisingly does a very good job as the prototype Willow and is a very solid actress. I could definitely see what they were going for by casting her. It's a shame she left the entertainment industry just a few short years after this pilot was produced.

Also notable is the difference in length. Compared to the final show, this episode seems made to fit a half-hour format, running only about 25 minutes. And for the most part, it works. It more-or-less is able to tell a cohesive story in its short length, and the pace is nice and brisk. Though obviously I do far prefer the hour-long format the final show went with.

On the whole, the unaired pilot does have enough entertainment value to keep you hooked. It's a real shame that this has never been given any sort-of official release, because it's nowhere near as bad as you might think. Sure, it's obviously inferior to the show that it helped spawn, but I can see why this would get networks interested in the series. It's a fun half-hour of "Buffy" history.

I'm giving it a solid 7 out of 10.

May (Angela Bettis) is a socially awkward misfit who is self-conscious about her lazy eye, and whose only real friend is an eerie doll her mother gave her as a child. Obsessed with "perfect" body-parts, she tries to forge a romantic connection with a slightly scummy mechanic (Jeremy Sisto) and later her lesbian co-worker (Anna Faris), but both fail miserably in no small part due to her complete inability to grasp interpersonal relationships. Left damaged and pushed beyond her breaking point, May decides that if she can't find a real friend, she will create the perfect one... by any means necessary.

Deftly mixing a battery of tones and emotions, writer/director Lucky McKee's "May" runs the gamut between dark comedy, tragedy and pure gothic horror, and it juggles these genres with a sense of style and wit that you don't see too much in mainstream horror. It's a very cool, calculated, confident film that might just be one of the great underrated thrillers of recent memory, along the same lines as overlooked cult-classics like "Ginger Snaps" and "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon."

McKee's script it tight and concise, with characters that are clearly defined and have a sense of depth. The pacing is excellent, with the film having a sense of deliberation that builds and builds towards the final act. And McKee's direction is top-notch. The film is beautifully told, with quirky visual touches and solid visual storytelling. It's a very competently made film, and it made me want to seek out McKee's other work.

Star Bettis commands the screen in a remarkable turn as our devilish and yet deeply sympathetic lead. She plays May pitch perfect-- you will be repulsed and disgusted by her actions, and yet there's a deep sense of humanity to her. She's absolutely crazy, but it's not her fault. She's just as much a victim as, well... her victims. I was also quite taken with Faris, who is perhaps best known for her roles in dopey comedies such as "Scary Movie" and the popular sitcom "Mom." I've always liked Faris despite not being a fan of much of her work, and she's a ton of fun as May's very unsubtle (and very randy) co-worker with a crush. And Sisto to his credit puts in a memorable turn as the first target of May's affection. He's an odd character, and isn't very likeable, but Sisto makes the most of the part.

At the end of the day, it's a bit of a tragedy that this film is so overlooked. Even as a major enthusiast of the horror genre, I wasn't aware of the film's existence until it was recommended to me by someone... and they only knew about it because it was recommended to them by someone else. It seems very much to be a word-of-mouth movie that's slowly been spreading over the last twenty years. But it's a film that deserves so much more-- it's clever, sharp and extremely well-executed, and its lead is endlessly endearing despite her actions. Here's to hoping that as time continues to move on, more and more people will discover this hidden gem.

I'm giving "May" an excellent 9 out of 10.