Robot Chicken: "Love, Maurice" Review

We get a new set of Terminators.

The last two episodes of Robot Chicken are a good indicator of just how much this show can vary from week to week. This week's set-up was almost identical to the last episode, with two extended pop culture parodies anchoring a good number of short sketches. Last week, the long sketches were about The Empire Strikes Back and GI Joe, whereas this week they parodied The Terminator universe and the Spider-Man films. And yet, even though they were spotlighting well-loved geek franchises, there's no comparison. Last week's show was funnier and more original.

We shouldn't completely disparage this episode, however. It was still an enjoyable show and there were a few quick sketches filled with reliably twisted Robot Chicken humor that are worth noting. The Bionic Woman received a few, uh, modifications for the purpose of pleasuring Steve Austin. That wasn't a snozzberry Charlie's grandpa tasted in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. And Robot Chicken recreated a scene from many a college dorm room where two stoners wondered what ever happened to former child star David Faustino from Married…With Children. A quick cut revealed that Faustino (voiced by the actor himself) had become a one-man army in the Middle East, starring in a new movie called, "Democracy," playing a character named, "Patriotism."

On the downside, Robot Chicken trotted out yet another O.J. Simpson sketch. There will come a time when these sketches will cease to exist, yes? The Dancing Itos were over 10 ten years ago! It's time to move on. This less-than original sketch had illusions to Throw Momma From the Train as O.J. and Roger Rabbit made a pact to kill each other's wives. No matter how you slice it, (oy, bad pun), sketches involving O.J. killing his wife have been done to death (man, I can't get out of my own way). They can do better, (and so can I).

Likewise, their Spider-Man and Terminator sketches should've been better as well. In the Spider-Man movie parody, they replaced a radioactive spider with a radioactive white-tailed deer and "Kid Venison" was born. With the power of spouting antlers and prancing around, Kid Venison aimed to stop criminals like muggers and poachers. Given the intimate knowledge by Robot Chicken fans of the character's history and mythology, this bit could've been much more detailed and filled with more potent jokes.

The Terminator sketch was entertaining, but it was based on a flawed premise. In the sketch, a "Terminator Baby" was sent back to protect John Connor, while a "Terminator Puppy" was sent back to kill him, the joke being that the franchise is running out of options for new and exciting Terminator models. The imitation of Arnold's voice as a baby was funny, as were the send-ups of classic chase scene clichés including the pane of glass, fruit cart and wall of boxes getting in the way. However, the sketch doesn't quite work because the newest incarnation of the series: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is a quality show. If the series was a quick cash-grab, maybe the joke is funnier. But as it stands, there are better film franchises to mock. For example, did we really need another chapter in the Without a Paddle saga?

IGN Ratings
(out of 10, not an average)
blog comments powered by Disqus
Become a fan of IGN