This is the third straight-to-DVD film from Matt Groening's second most (if not more) popular show Futurama. Basically prices of fuel of rising, especially for dark matter which is declining, making Prof. Farnsworth (Billy West) to cancel ship travel in case they waste fuel. Leela (Katey Sagal) of course breaks this rule and as a result has to wear a shock collar to control temper tantrums, but later she enjoys the shocks. Meanwhile, Bender feels left out of a game of Dungeons & Dragons because he has no imagination, but when he does he gives himself the new name "Titanius Anglesmith" in the realm of Cornwood, he believes he is a knight, has gone crazy and is put in an institute. Farnsworth finds out that even with the fuel shortage, Mom (Tress MacNeille) is still making a fortune, and the only way to stop her is to get the "anti-backwards" matter next to dark matter, rendering it all useless. It is when Bender shows up that everyone is plunged into his mad medieval world to continue the fight as the mythical characters they have become, with segments spoofing both Dungeons & Dragons, and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Fry (also West) is the one who obsesses over the power of the opposite matter, and becomes a Gollum like character. In the end, Mom does manage to get her opposite matter back, only to have Cornwood collapse on itself, Farnsworth hugs his newfound son (with Mom) Igner (also Di Maggio) as they both swallowed the opposite matters, and dark matter is now worthless, meaning they must find new source of fuel. Also starring Billy West as Dr. Zoidberg, Tress MacNeille as Nurse Ratchet, Maurice LaMarche as Morbo and Calculon, Phil LaMarr as Hermes Conrad, Lauren Tom as Amy Wong, Frank Welker as Nibbler, Rich Little and George Takei. It has its moments of action, and there are some good small gags and spoofs, but the story isn't the most engaging, but it is worth watching. Oh by the way, the new fuel is apparently whale oil, according to the next, and possibly last (?) film, Into the Wild Green Yonder. The TV series was number 26 on The 100 Greatest Cartoons. Good!
Review of Futurama: Bender's Game
