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movie news
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Tue. 11 14. 2006 12:25 PM EST
'Aqua Teen Hunger Force' On The Big Screen: Decapitations, Phil Collins
Writer/director Dave Willis promises weird cameos, boundary-pushing hilarity in Cartoon Network film, due in 2007.
by
Larry Carroll
Master Shake in "The Aqua Teen Hunger Force Movie Film for Theaters"
(
Warner Bros.
)
SAN DIEGO, California — Seven years ago, writer/director Dave Willis had a vision of a talking meatball, a paternal box of French fries and the frosty beverage that consistently gets them into all sorts of misadventures.
Most
people would get off the drugs at that point and seek a good 12-step program. Willis, however, decided to make it into a prime-time cartoon show.
"Matt Maiellaro and I came up with the idea back in 1999," Willis said of "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," the most bizarre cult show on television, which is approaching a half-decade of alien-abducting, urine-drinking lunacy. "It was a failed 'Space Ghost [Coast to Coast]' script. We weren't allowed to make it as a 'Space Ghost,' so Cartoon Network was like, 'Well, let's see if we can make an entire series, and then a movie.' "
You heard that right — the adventures of Meatwad, Frylock and Master Shake are coming to a multiplex near you. Recently, the first minute of "The Aqua Teen Hunger Force Movie Film for Theaters" was unveiled on the show's Web site, along with a promise that the flick would be "In theaters at some point in 2007." Even the series' most die-hard fans don't know what the movie's plot is — and after watching the photo-real clip of the Aqua Teens emerging from the Sphinx's sphincter, speaking in gibberish and engaging in a laser-eye battle with a giant poodle, most of them probably feel like they know even less than they did before.
Giving a preview of the flick, Willis was willing to reveal some plot points, particularly those concerning the Aqua Teens' obnoxious, hirsute New Jersey neighbor Carl Brutananadilewski (who, like Meatwad, is voiced by Willis). "He gets buff. He's muscular and cut because he's ingesting mammoth amounts of human-growth hormone," Willis revealed. "His head grows to eight times its original size."
As for the actual Aqua Teen Hunger Force — who, it should be noted, are not teenagers, rarely go near the water and are hardly a force, although they do frequently eat — Willis said if you're expecting some sort of heart-tugging coming-of-age story, you're probably reading the wrong interview right now. "A personal story? Oh, like a journey? Like learning?" he laughed mockingly. "No, no, no. They don't learn anything. It's really just 90 minutes of them bickering over their gas bill."
So, based on the Cartoon Network's official synopsis and Willis' statements, we know that the film features the three main characters "engaged in an epic battle that could well determine the very future of civilization," and that there's also an argument over who left the thermostat up. Oh, yeah, and a giant poodle fits in there somewhere too.
The movie will also feature several guest voices from the likes of Rush drummer/songwriter Neil Peart and geek mega-star Bruce Campbell. "There are actually plenty [of cameos], and we won't credit any of them," Willis promised. "We can't say who, because of union rules. You'll just have to listen for them."
In something of an Abbott and Costello "Who's on First?"-like gag, Willis did confirm a cameo by an appropriately titled musical group. "We have the band Cameo," he revealed, grinning. "We have the funk band from the '80s. You know, 'Candy' and 'Word Up!'? They're in it. That's the big difference, really, between the show and the movie — Cameo."
Those familiar with the show know how important the music has always been, from the infectious opening theme to Meatwad's obsessions with rappers like MC Pee Pants, Little Brittle and Sir Loin — in fact, the band Mastodon will appear as animated characters in the film and perform a song with Willis-penned lyrics (see "Mastodon Become Thrash-Rocking Junk Food For 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force' Flick"). The movie will also contain new music by both Schoolly D and Phil Collins. Yup, that Phil Collins.
Despite the Genesis shout-outs, Willis promises that he'll push the "Aqua Teen" movie to a controversial edge that even a late-night slot on Adult Swim doesn't allow. "There are multiple decapitations, which may lend itself to an R-rated feature," he beamed, before shrugging and acknowledging that a battle might be in his future. "Those may be cut because I've been told we will not be releasing an R-rated feature. I don't know what's going to happen there."
Willis does know this much, however: With a cast of charismatic food, a giant canine villain and cameos by geek favorites, soft-rock songwriters and '80s funk veterans, the movie ought to appeal to at least as broad an audience as, say, "Titanic." " 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force' is really macho and cool," he smiled. "We made it for the jocks."
This report is from MTV News.
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