To Boldly Flee
The internet is an amazing thing. It’s a place where a group of people can come together with a collective idea and share it. It’s a place where artists can show their work without fear of some corporation turning it down or altering it beyond recognition. But one of my favorite aspects of the internet is that it’s a place where something as simple as a pop-culture website can grow beyond its original review trappings to create something bigger. That’s why That Guy with the Glasses is one of my favorite websites around. The people there don’t just make reviews, they build characters and stories. Characters and stories which are then weaved into each video for no other reason but their own (and hopefully the viewers’) entertainment.
For the past four years, That Guy with the Glasses has celebrated their website with an annual get-together where they showcase a special mini-series for their most ardent fans. The first year was simple; an all-out brawl between the different reviewers. Year two they really started to show their talent, with The Nostalgia Critic (the lead persona of the site, played by Doug Walker) attempting to take over an actual micro-nation in the middle of Nevada. Last year each reviewer took on an iconic homage to an adventurer from pop culture and went on a quest in Suburbia. Each annual event has been getting progressively more complex, with Doug Walker and crew bringing a bit more effort with each attempt.
I feel like they really brought their A-game with this year’s submission: To Boldly Flee. First, a little back story. During last year’s event, one of the characters, Ma-Ti (yes, based off the “power of Heart” wielder from Captain Planet) “died” and his body was launched into space. This year begins with The Nostalgia Critic still dealing with Ma-Ti’s death, when he starts receiving weird messages. Meanwhile: other reviewers have discovered a mysterious signal from space, near Jupiter, getting closer to Earth; enemies of the Nostalgia Critic begin to conspire against him; and the Spoony One starts to go insane.
Don’t get me wrong – it’s terribly flawed. The special effects are lame, the acting is atrocious, and the plot is kind of dependent on you being an active follower of the site. But the comedic timing is pretty damn good and, for an amateur production produced entirely by amateurs, it’s obvious they’re putting their damndest in it. It’s a load of fun and the writing more than makes up for the delivery.
About the Author
Greg Giannetti A king among men, this miraculous example of perfection graces us with his presence on the internets where he can write about his opinions on things that totally matter. Greg also knows the true secret to life - lots of naps.