Rating: ***
Review Date: 9/28/08
Producer: Seth Green
The twisted minds behind "Robot Chicken" take a vicious stab at the "Star Wars" universe, lampooning it with pop culture irreverance. Some of it is very clever and funny, but almost everything devolves into something tasteless and mean spirited. It's basically a collection of stop-motion animated shorts including a TV spot for Admiral Ackbar cereal, an "Empire Strikes Back" ice skating production, Darth Vader's reunion with Jar Jar Binks, and a surreal cameo by George Lucas (crafted as an action figure). It's curious that they got permission from LucasFilm to make the show, which is bathed in the angst and despair of old school fans who lament the tragedy of the prequel films. It's as much a celebration of the original films as it is an angry attack on what the franchise would become.
Aside from all of that, what's most impressive about the show is the animation itself, which is top notch work. Seeing the "Star Wars" universe come alive in this medium is awe inspiring. It's a serious production, and not just some teenage geeks posing action figures in their garage. Or maybe it's just some older geeks playing with action figures in a really expensive garage. Regardless, it's well done.