Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, 2017.
Directed by David Soren.
Featuring the voice talents of Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll, Jordan Peele, and Kristen Schaal.
SYNOPSIS:
Two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold, hypnotize their principal into thinking he’s a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.
As superhero films shift more in the direction of mature themes (even the PG-13 offerings are starting to push the envelope), a specifically child-friendly hopeful franchise starter such as Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is an appreciated gift. Based on the series of novels by Dav Pilkey, directed by David Soren (Turbo), and notably written by Nicholas Stoller (most known for critically acclaimed R-rated comedic efforts such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, also having successfully proven himself at adapting material for younger ones by writing both The Muppets Movies), the animated feature expectedly embraces lowbrow toilet humor, and is even self-aware of the popular opinion that it is frowned upon, especially by adults.
Perhaps even more embarrassing than voicing a used tampon in last year’s adults only raucous Sausage Party, Nick Kroll breathes life into a mad scientist crudely named Mr. Poopypants. His full name is not much more sophisticated. The point, however, and the reason I am bringing the antagonist up first, is that this is the style of comedy depicted, so set your expectations accordingly. That’s not to say all of the humor is eye-rolling nonsense unequivocally targeted at the same age group as George and Harold (Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch lending their voices to the best friends infatuated with juvenile comic book storytelling and jokes, albeit mildly distractingly sounding like adults), as I won’t deny that watching a gigantic toilet wreak havoc on the city isn’t entertaining. There is creativity behind the child pandering.
The enigmatic Ed Helms receives the honor of voicing Captain Underpants, and the first outing for the superhero lives and dies by the energy that he brings to the performance. Hypnotized by George and Harold being transformed from curmudgeon school principal (he even lives on Curmudgeon Boulevard!) into the dimwitted superhero brainstormed up from their imaginative works, the first 30 minutes or so that see the out of shape and non-alert vigilante inserting himself into ridiculous situations in an attempt to battle nonexistent crime are hilarious. It’s only when the aforementioned Mr. Poopypants is introduced that the feature begins honing in on children exclusively.
This is particularly because Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie definitely gets right presenting the early elementary school experience in a way that will not only resonate with children in the audience, but also give flashbacks down memory lane to adults present in the theater. I’m sure almost everyone loved playing pranks on adults at some point in their life and probably loathed their uptight school principal that treated education like a prison (which is actually a funny visual gag in the movie). Granted, Principal Krupp is obviously an exaggerated take on the persona, the point stands; watching George and Harold mess with him, accidentally bringing their art to life and inadvertently being forced to watch over a man-baby simply works.
It also helps that Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie visually inserts various forms of comic book storytelling, ranging from flip-o-ramas, to the typical appropriate environmental backgrounds during flight and action, and more. The movie also isn’t afraid to get weird, most notably with a very bizarre sock puppet sequence. Whether it’s a good weird or bad weird is up to the viewer, but it’s nice that the direction is trying to put forth the same sense of imagination that exists within the young, storytelling best buddies.
However, the film does run out of gas by about the end of the first act, leaving everyone with endless jokes about a guy bullied for having poop in his name. Occasionally, there are jokes along the way that only adults will understand (mainly shots fired at our current education system), but the experience still mostly contains dead air. Thankfully, the movie doesn’t even crack 90 minutes, and the action sequence at the end is moderately amusing. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie isn’t necessarily epic, but the filmmakers understand the material and the classic characters, and have created something that will assuredly keep children occupied while briefly teaching them a lesson about bullying along with the concept of being able to laugh at one’s self.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder – Chief Film Critic of Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews weekly, friend me on Facebook, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
Originally published June 1, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
