Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Fresh off ripping space-time a new one at the end of "Bender's Big Score," the Planet Express crew is back to mend the tear in reality, or (hopefully) at least not make it worse. Beyond the tear, though, lurks a being of inconceivable...tentacularity. What will become of Earth, and indeed, our universe, when faced with the Beast with a Billion Backs?
The second Futurama direct-to-DVD movie is a watchable but uneven entry in the franchise. The tentacle-alien romance concept has some inspired absurdist touches (religion as alien mind control, Yivo as a genuinely weird creation), but the plot meanders across too many subplots without the sharp focus of the best Futurama episodes. The voice cast delivers their usual reliable work, but nothing transcends the TV series standard. Cinematographically it remains a competent but unremarkable animated production with the standard TV-elevated movie budget look. Its novelty is limited — it follows the same direct-to-DVD format as Bender's Big Score and doesn't push the formula further. The ending wraps up in a somewhat rushed, unsatisfying fashion that doesn't fully capitalize on the emotional potential of Yivo's relationship with humanity. A solid but not standout entry for fans.