Beavis e Butt-Head Detonam a América

Beavis & Butt-Head Do America is a good movie with a pretty well written storyline and a terrific voice cast. It's nothing outstanding, but it's simply a fun and enjoyable ninety minutes of animated adult comedy. I'm not a huge fan of the Beavis & Butt-Head television series, I like it but don't love it and that's the same way I felt about this, I don't have any care or sympathy for these characters, but seeing them behave like huge idiots in this movie, which is basically just a long episode of the series, was certainly a good time. Die hard fans of the television series will certainly love it, as for people who have never seen a single episode, it is still worth the watch if you ever see it on television and have some time to kill.

After their TV is stolen, Beavis & Butt-Head travel across America in search of it.

As much as I love Beavis and Butthead, I never thought they would truly find their way in a feature film. However, they manage better than I expected. The plot may not be good enough to stay interesting throughout, but the dry wit makes up for it all. I was expecting to have a complete burn-out from all the typical trademarks the show brought us, but these guys just make it all so bearable, they can get away with a lot of otherwise groan-inducing moments. The double entendres are really coming from all sides here (heh, I said coming), and still they get me every time. Why do I laugh at a line like "he said anus"? Because it's pretty goddamn funny, probably. Of course this movie also entertains because it's such an outcast among movies, much like the show was an outcast among shows. This is just not like anything I've ever seen, it has an extra quality I can't put my finger on. As far as adaptations of famous cartoons go, this ranks pretty high.

The controversial but highly popular MTV animated series hits the big screen in this surprisingly entertaining and humorous film from the crazed mind of Mike Judge. The two dim-witted teenage friends have their television stolen and set out to find it. However it seems that a chemical weapon of mass destruction has fallen into the pair's hands. Now national security is a major issue as the two go on a long journey to some of the country's most famous locales. The authorities always seem to be two steps behind in this film that has a comedic life of its own. Interesting voice characterizations by Judge, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Cloris Leachman and the golden-voiced Robert Stack all match their animated alter-egos perfectly. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I know a lot of you who have never seen Beavis and Butthead probably think very little of the show based on the low-brow nature of it (I was one of them), but if you give this movie a chance you'll see that it's actually as well written and at times as, dare I say, subtle as King of the Hill.

Beavis and Butthead have their TV stolen and when trying to get it back are mistaken for hit men by drunken drunk Muddy Grimes (Bruce Willis, as I was rather shocked to find out once the credits rolled), who sends them on a mission to 'do his wife' Dallas. Misinterpreting this as any horny teenagers would, B+B head to Las Vegas to carry out the terrible act. But we discover (they don't, however) that Dallas and Muddy are part of international weapons conspiracy and our two teen-aged heroes are being set-up to take the blame.

So, as they take off across the country, causing absolute mayhem wherever they go, the ATF closely follow, giving full body cavity searches to everyone and anyone they meet at the order of head honcho Agent Flemming (the late Robert Stack), who comes out with some brilliant, deadpan one-liners. The set-pieces are wonderful and the mushroom-induced dream sequence by Rob Zombie looks amazing.

Mike Judge's animation style also brilliant. Avoiding bright, primary colors used in shows such as The Simpsons, Family Guy and Futurama, he uses mainly softer colors, pencil-effect scenery and water-color backgrounds. It's a sort of calming, easy-going animation style that he's totally made his own.

You should totally check-out this movie. Don't be put off by what you may have heard or may think of Beavis and Butthead. You'll be conning yourself out of loads of laughs if you do.

And look-out for Daria Morgendorfer in the 'Lesbian Seagull' scene.

I remember reading Roger Ebert's review of this review and how profound it was. He remarked that it's mistakenly thought that "Beavis And Butt-Head" is a show that takes pride in the stupidity of its main characters and this wasn't the message. He said, "I believe Mike Judge would rather die than share a taxi ride to the airport with his characters...". These are guys you're supposed to laugh at, not with. They are manifestations of creator Mike Judge's anger at ignorant people. They're not relatable at all, although I guess they're not technically bad people.

I've seen some episodes of the newer show and this was quite faithful to it. The animation does seem to be the same as the TV show. What matters is that this movie has a lot of great lines and jokes and that's what it's made for. I was kind of getting a Blues Brothers vibe from this as it features two guys causing all this trouble around the country, including a car pile-up. I didn't root for them like I did the Blues Brothers, oh no. That would again, be missing the point. ***