| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
| Resources |
|
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy - Billy and Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure, The
Warner Bros. // Unrated // April 3, 2007
List Price: $14.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
"The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy" is one of the sharpest cartoons currently hitting basic cable. It's a gloriously funny combo pack of goth attitude and gross-out kiddie comedy, smushed together with a wit that sings.
Which makes "Bill & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure" a bit of a letdown. The full-length movie, which debuted on Cartoon Network in March and now arrives on home video, should be a wild celebration of all things Grim, yet it's really just a mildly funny, sorta-cute-at-times extended episode, one that will offer some solid laughs but ultimately won't stick out in your memory the way the best "Billy & Mandy" cartoons will.
Of course, even iffy "Billy & Mandy" is better than many other animated products out there, and there are times when the show's wicked humor breaks through the staleness and create some truly giddy moments.
For those unfamiliar with the series: Billy (voiced by Richard Steven Horvitz) is a dumb, happy boy with a penchant for nose picking; Mandy (Grey DeLisle) is a brilliant, moody girl with a penchant for frowning. When the Grim Reaper (Greg Eagles) loses a bet, he's forced to become playmate to the two kids. The cartoon antics, they do ensue.
For their "Big Boogey Adventure," the Boogeyman (Fred Willard) schemes to get Grim stripped of his powers, all part of a greater plan to steal Horror's Hand, a big rock hand thingie that will help Boogey take over the world. It's up to Grim, Billy, Mandy, and nerdy pal Irwin (Vanessa Marshall) to travel through the underworld and nab Horror's Hand before Boogey does.
It's the makings for a wildly entertaining oversized adventure, but there's really just not much there. As the gang trots from episodic snippet to episodic snippet, too few of the chapters click. A large chunk is wasted on an underworld version of pirates, complete with plank-walking and a kraken, and after so many other pirate tie-ins lately, this scene's too stale. A subplot involving time-traveling Billy and Mandy robots from the future promises to deliver grand-scale cartoon mayhem, but aside from a few well-placed fart jokes, the 'bots leave us with a shrug.
There are enough smaller, wildly absurd bits tossed in to rescue the film, however. Most notable is a kooky aside involving Billy and Mandy puppets (don't ask, just laugh), gags in which Billy's booger obsession gets taken to ludicrous heights, and other little oddball moments meant for quick, unexpected giggles. The movie may try way too hard to pay off its own movie-ness with big character moments (does Mandy love Billy? will Irwin kiss Mandy??), looking too uncomfortable in the process, but then it redeems itself through general goofiness.
That should be no surprise - goofiness has always been the show's strong point, and here, in their great big Boogey Adventure, goofiness is their saving grace.
The DVD
Video & Audio
Warner does good by offering both anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) and broadcast standard (1.33:1) versions of the movie. (The full screen version was how the movie originally aired; the widescreen version offers more image on the sides. You decide which one you prefer.) Both transfers look outstanding, thanks to the wonderful animation.
The soundtrack gets the full Dolby 5.1 treatment, with excellent use of the surround speakers. Sound effects whiz around you in playful fashion. Optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles are offered.
Extras
"Behind the Voices" (10:38) is a quick, fun featurette introducing us to the voice cast (something most cartoons are often hesitant to do) and gives plenty of face time to series creator Maxwell Atoms.
"Bully Boogie" (11:37), the wonderfully twisted "Billy & Mandy" cartoon where we first meet Boogey, is added as a sweet treat. Funnier than the movie itself, this short is a keeper - especially since no full season sets of the show have yet to be released.
Previews for "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" and "Ben 10" play as the disc loads; you can skip them.
Final Thoughts
Recommended to fans of the show, who will find enough booger-related fun here to satisfy their "Billy & Mandy" jones. Those not familiar with the show may want to Rent It first, and wait for the full season sets instead.
Which makes "Bill & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure" a bit of a letdown. The full-length movie, which debuted on Cartoon Network in March and now arrives on home video, should be a wild celebration of all things Grim, yet it's really just a mildly funny, sorta-cute-at-times extended episode, one that will offer some solid laughs but ultimately won't stick out in your memory the way the best "Billy & Mandy" cartoons will.
Of course, even iffy "Billy & Mandy" is better than many other animated products out there, and there are times when the show's wicked humor breaks through the staleness and create some truly giddy moments.
For those unfamiliar with the series: Billy (voiced by Richard Steven Horvitz) is a dumb, happy boy with a penchant for nose picking; Mandy (Grey DeLisle) is a brilliant, moody girl with a penchant for frowning. When the Grim Reaper (Greg Eagles) loses a bet, he's forced to become playmate to the two kids. The cartoon antics, they do ensue.
For their "Big Boogey Adventure," the Boogeyman (Fred Willard) schemes to get Grim stripped of his powers, all part of a greater plan to steal Horror's Hand, a big rock hand thingie that will help Boogey take over the world. It's up to Grim, Billy, Mandy, and nerdy pal Irwin (Vanessa Marshall) to travel through the underworld and nab Horror's Hand before Boogey does.
It's the makings for a wildly entertaining oversized adventure, but there's really just not much there. As the gang trots from episodic snippet to episodic snippet, too few of the chapters click. A large chunk is wasted on an underworld version of pirates, complete with plank-walking and a kraken, and after so many other pirate tie-ins lately, this scene's too stale. A subplot involving time-traveling Billy and Mandy robots from the future promises to deliver grand-scale cartoon mayhem, but aside from a few well-placed fart jokes, the 'bots leave us with a shrug.
There are enough smaller, wildly absurd bits tossed in to rescue the film, however. Most notable is a kooky aside involving Billy and Mandy puppets (don't ask, just laugh), gags in which Billy's booger obsession gets taken to ludicrous heights, and other little oddball moments meant for quick, unexpected giggles. The movie may try way too hard to pay off its own movie-ness with big character moments (does Mandy love Billy? will Irwin kiss Mandy??), looking too uncomfortable in the process, but then it redeems itself through general goofiness.
That should be no surprise - goofiness has always been the show's strong point, and here, in their great big Boogey Adventure, goofiness is their saving grace.
The DVD
Video & Audio
Warner does good by offering both anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) and broadcast standard (1.33:1) versions of the movie. (The full screen version was how the movie originally aired; the widescreen version offers more image on the sides. You decide which one you prefer.) Both transfers look outstanding, thanks to the wonderful animation.
The soundtrack gets the full Dolby 5.1 treatment, with excellent use of the surround speakers. Sound effects whiz around you in playful fashion. Optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles are offered.
Extras
"Behind the Voices" (10:38) is a quick, fun featurette introducing us to the voice cast (something most cartoons are often hesitant to do) and gives plenty of face time to series creator Maxwell Atoms.
"Bully Boogie" (11:37), the wonderfully twisted "Billy & Mandy" cartoon where we first meet Boogey, is added as a sweet treat. Funnier than the movie itself, this short is a keeper - especially since no full season sets of the show have yet to be released.
Previews for "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" and "Ben 10" play as the disc loads; you can skip them.
Final Thoughts
Recommended to fans of the show, who will find enough booger-related fun here to satisfy their "Billy & Mandy" jones. Those not familiar with the show may want to Rent It first, and wait for the full season sets instead.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
|
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||