“Tripping the Rift” has always had a cult following for its creative parodies of sci-fi favorites coupled with brazen language and generous doses of sexual deviance. With three seasons under its belt, the show heads to DVD with the “Tripping the Rift” Movie (which is actually like three episodes strung together by a slightly connecting storyline).
Tripping the Rift’s style lends itself to half-hour episodes, and while the movie retains the feeling of just watching three in a row, it doesn’t offer anything too original for those expecting the subtitle to really mean anything. Much like a Star Trek in South Park, the outlandish antics and absurd predicaments the main crew of zany characters find themselves in comprise the majority of the entertainment. Chode (Stephen Root) is the three-eyed blobby purple alien captain whose insatiable sexual appetite and very un-sugarcoated dialogue provides the lowest point of the show’s maturity, but also the funniest. Pleasure droid Six (Jenny McCarthy) offers the brains and the looks behind their operations and is usually the target of gratuitous sexual references. The gay robot Gus (Maurice LeMarche) manages a few laughs here and there, and both the hideous bovine alien T’nuk and wimpy lizard Whip generally just get annoying. Main villain Darph Bobo (a clown-like Vader knockoff) doesn’t always impress, but is definitely more appealing than the sub-villains introduced throughout the movie that exude the very essence of all that is dismal and revolting.
The major appeal of the TV show lies in the edgy quips and ludicrous parodies (along with frequent hints of nudity from the unnaturally jiggly female android Six), but more so here than in random episodes the humor is noticeably hit-or-miss. Unexpected interjections and offbeat rants from Chode are easily the most entertaining bits, but everything from gay jokes to breaking out into song and dance find their way into this Rift. The parodies used in the movie are a little too cliche and rarely will the grimace change to a laugh, but fans of the series will undoubtedly follow these characters to whatever unlikely locations they end up.
Special Features:
The DVD Special Features include a short “making-of” featurette which is, in reality, just a series of short interviews with the main voice actors. This otherwise throwaway feature becomes essential viewing when the camera turns to Jenny McCarthy (replacing Carmen Electra as the voice of Six) who points out the shared attributes with her animated character, including being built for sex, multi-orgasmic, and showcasing a heaving bosom. A theatrical trailer rounds out the special features, however those fortunate enough to purchase their copy from Best Buy can get the bonus disc “The Best of Six,” which contains three episodes based around the buxom android beauty, which are actually better than those that comprise the movie.
Overall:
The foul-mouthed characters spouting crude jokes and obscenities will appeal to fans of the series, but newcomers may find the offbeat humor and immature spoofing difficult to swallow. The individual episodes of the seasons are more effectively paced and ultimately more entertaining, but those buying the movie will definitely want to pick up the Best Buy exclusive with the bonus episodes.
MoviePulse
Genre: Comedy, Animation
Running Time: 75 min.
DVD Release Date: March 25th, 2008
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Directed By: Bernie Denk
Starring: Stephen Root, Jenny McCarthy, Maurice LaMarche, John Melendez
SCORE = 4/10
