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The Venture Brothers: Season 1
2 DVDS/APPROX. 291 MINS/2003/USA MA15+
2 DVDS/APPROX. 291 MINS/2003/USA MA15+
8
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Balls, if there is one thing that ‘Venture Bros’ has, it is definitely balls. I won’t tell you why just now, but just stew on that one for a while.
The premise of the show will not be unfamiliar, as it draws (without too much secrecy) from the old Saturday Morning cartoons we used to watch
ourselves as kids, namely ‘Johnny Quest’. Even ‘Race Bannon’ a character from Johnny Quest features in an episode. The story is about the
adventures, or rather misadventures, of Doctor Venture, his two sons Hank and Dean (the Venture brothers themselves), and Doctor Venture’s
body guard Brock Samson (superbly voiced by Patrick Warburton). Other characters include Helper, a robot that well . . .helps, Doctor Orpheus who
is Doctor Ventures neighbour, a scientist and also a necromancer . . . Spooky. As well as a veritably cavalcade of super-villains such as Phantom
Limb, Baron Underbheit, Doctor Girlfriend, and The Monarch, Doctor Ventures self proclaimed Arch Nemesis.
Now about the balls, I am not trying to say that this show breaks any new ground as such, but it is more a case of how it decides to tread the
ground it walks. Within the first scene of the first episode we are treated to Brock Samson’s bare ass. Later we are treated to such timeless
scenes as a zombie that does nothing but scream, the Monarch masturbating whilst watching his assistant make out with Doctor Venture, the
Monarch baking cookies for the Venture brothers and showing concern over how their Father has never even told them he loves them, oddly he
seems a better father figure to them than Doctor Venture himself . . . Actually every character seems like a better father to them than their actual
daddy, and other oddities that take the ‘Venture clique’ out of the dysfunctional and straight in the totally screwed up.
The animation of the series is very reminiscent of cartoons such as ‘Ren and Stimpy‘, or other such shows of its ilk, when it comes to facial
expressions of intense nature (like anyone getting seriously angry), yet seems to use a hybrid of old school ‘Hannah Barbara’ cartoons mixed with
the particular ‘Cartoon network’ style seen in such cartoons as (any of Bruce Timm’s) animated DC Comics characters, Batman, Superman, Justice
league, or other ‘toons such as ‘Samurai Jack, Star Wars’ or even the upcoming ’Transformers: Animated’ cartoon series coming up.
The voice acting is phenomenal, with everyone delivering their lines with a comic tone and timing as if they were acting it themselves and not just
recording it. The spectacular ability of the voice actors is phenomenal, and shines through in the fact that the characters seem real and complete
as opposed to separate animation and audio that has been synced together. The wit combines classic British humour and sarcasm with a more
American style of slapstick and camp, instead of it all seeming out of place it seems truly natural.
There are of course a couple of negative points. The series doesn’t truly begin to shine under its own strength until after a couple of episodes, but
after you become acclimatised to the humour everyone mixes together like butter. And for those who prefer a bit more upfront and flamboyant use
of humour (such as ‘Family Guy’ or ‘American Dad’ use) the more subtle nature of a lot of the jokes may be lost on you. Although in saying that
liking or disliking Seth McFarlane cartoons should not be the control for which you judge this series as I personally believe that everyone could find
something in this series that they like. The quantities of how much of this you like is purely up to you though.
The special features of this series are not lacking either (although not exactly a font of wealth either), featuring commentaries for multiple
episodes, and the usual stuff. But also features the pilot episode (although not as refined visually or audibly as the rest of the series), and a
Christmas special. There is also an interview with cast, but instead of it being the usual responses to off screen questions and the actors talking
about their work on the show, all the actors featured in the interview appear dressed as their characters and talking as if they are fictional
characters playing parts in a ‘Venture Bros.’ live action movie. It is even labelled on the special features as a live action preview. Oh and the
obligatory ‘making of’s’ also have their own special blend of humour, kind of something you have to see to get the effect.
One thing that I must note, because I wish I had have known this when I first started watching the series, is that all but a very small amount of
the episodes, have an extra little skit at the end of the credits, that you could easily miss if you didn’t know about them. Well worth the look
though.
So, go forth and enjoy the experience.
GO TEAM VENTURE! *holds up fingers in the shape of a V*
The premise of the show will not be unfamiliar, as it draws (without too much secrecy) from the old Saturday Morning cartoons we used to watch
ourselves as kids, namely ‘Johnny Quest’. Even ‘Race Bannon’ a character from Johnny Quest features in an episode. The story is about the
adventures, or rather misadventures, of Doctor Venture, his two sons Hank and Dean (the Venture brothers themselves), and Doctor Venture’s
body guard Brock Samson (superbly voiced by Patrick Warburton). Other characters include Helper, a robot that well . . .helps, Doctor Orpheus who
is Doctor Ventures neighbour, a scientist and also a necromancer . . . Spooky. As well as a veritably cavalcade of super-villains such as Phantom
Limb, Baron Underbheit, Doctor Girlfriend, and The Monarch, Doctor Ventures self proclaimed Arch Nemesis.
Now about the balls, I am not trying to say that this show breaks any new ground as such, but it is more a case of how it decides to tread the
ground it walks. Within the first scene of the first episode we are treated to Brock Samson’s bare ass. Later we are treated to such timeless
scenes as a zombie that does nothing but scream, the Monarch masturbating whilst watching his assistant make out with Doctor Venture, the
Monarch baking cookies for the Venture brothers and showing concern over how their Father has never even told them he loves them, oddly he
seems a better father figure to them than Doctor Venture himself . . . Actually every character seems like a better father to them than their actual
daddy, and other oddities that take the ‘Venture clique’ out of the dysfunctional and straight in the totally screwed up.
The animation of the series is very reminiscent of cartoons such as ‘Ren and Stimpy‘, or other such shows of its ilk, when it comes to facial
expressions of intense nature (like anyone getting seriously angry), yet seems to use a hybrid of old school ‘Hannah Barbara’ cartoons mixed with
the particular ‘Cartoon network’ style seen in such cartoons as (any of Bruce Timm’s) animated DC Comics characters, Batman, Superman, Justice
league, or other ‘toons such as ‘Samurai Jack, Star Wars’ or even the upcoming ’Transformers: Animated’ cartoon series coming up.
The voice acting is phenomenal, with everyone delivering their lines with a comic tone and timing as if they were acting it themselves and not just
recording it. The spectacular ability of the voice actors is phenomenal, and shines through in the fact that the characters seem real and complete
as opposed to separate animation and audio that has been synced together. The wit combines classic British humour and sarcasm with a more
American style of slapstick and camp, instead of it all seeming out of place it seems truly natural.
There are of course a couple of negative points. The series doesn’t truly begin to shine under its own strength until after a couple of episodes, but
after you become acclimatised to the humour everyone mixes together like butter. And for those who prefer a bit more upfront and flamboyant use
of humour (such as ‘Family Guy’ or ‘American Dad’ use) the more subtle nature of a lot of the jokes may be lost on you. Although in saying that
liking or disliking Seth McFarlane cartoons should not be the control for which you judge this series as I personally believe that everyone could find
something in this series that they like. The quantities of how much of this you like is purely up to you though.
The special features of this series are not lacking either (although not exactly a font of wealth either), featuring commentaries for multiple
episodes, and the usual stuff. But also features the pilot episode (although not as refined visually or audibly as the rest of the series), and a
Christmas special. There is also an interview with cast, but instead of it being the usual responses to off screen questions and the actors talking
about their work on the show, all the actors featured in the interview appear dressed as their characters and talking as if they are fictional
characters playing parts in a ‘Venture Bros.’ live action movie. It is even labelled on the special features as a live action preview. Oh and the
obligatory ‘making of’s’ also have their own special blend of humour, kind of something you have to see to get the effect.
One thing that I must note, because I wish I had have known this when I first started watching the series, is that all but a very small amount of
the episodes, have an extra little skit at the end of the credits, that you could easily miss if you didn’t know about them. Well worth the look
though.
So, go forth and enjoy the experience.
GO TEAM VENTURE! *holds up fingers in the shape of a V*
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