TV REVIEW: "Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show"

[Firaga 5,947]

 

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Kingdom Hearts nerds of all ages, it is time once again for a review, and not only with this be for a cartoon, it’s going a cartoon film, a made-for-TV cartoon film and grand finale for a series that I already reviewed some time ago, that being of course “Ed, Edd n Eddy”. 

 

The movie was originally released on November 8, 2009 on Cartoon Network. After it’s premiere, it was supposed to be on DVD, but just like the cartoon series itself sans the first and second season, CN doesn’t seem interested in releasing it. You can still find it on iTunes, though.

 

I mentioned in my “EEnE” review that this movie is different from the whole of the series, and I was not lying. Not in the slightest. I’ll explain more in the review, but in summary, it’s pretty much an experience that any long time fan of the show would appreciate.

 

Without further ado: *walks up to glass case on wall that reads “In Case Of Review, Break Glass”, breaks glass, takes out a peanut*

 

Wait, a peanut? Huh. Cheap review… I mean, uh, let’s get into it.

 

To get a good read on how this movie is going to play out, just look at the opening title card. It’s just a black screen with the title of the movie on it. No silly antics, no classic theme song, no nothin’. It’s a nice little indicator of what to expect because let me tell ya, this ain’t gonna be about another wacky scam full of hi-jinks and whatnot…

The basic plot is: after a scam gone horribly wrong (which we never really find too much about, but that’s not really the point, so oh well), the Cul-De-Sack Kids get so fed up that they start chasing down the Eds. Fearing for their safety, they steal a car from Eddy’s brother’s room (referenced in my stupid pre-review line) and get the Hell out of Peach Creek. Eddy then decides that the three should travel to Eddy’s brother’s place to find refuge, while the other Cul-De-Sac kids follow them so they can either hunt them down (with Jimmy/Sarah following just so they can watch them get pummeled and the Kanker Sisters following because, well, you can probably guess that).

The first thing you’ll probably notice is the tone. Pay attention to the opening sequence especially, from the start of seeing the aftermath of the scam to the Eds escaping the kids. Everything that is usually played for laughs (the scam, its results, how it screws over the kids, how the Eds’s mistakes impact themselves and the kids) is played seriously. Both Ed and Eddy are already trying to leave town while Edd i.e. Double D is trying to write an apology letter to his parents while feeling immense guilt for his actions all the while. It’s super dark and depressing compared to the usual shenanigans of the series. The kids play a role in this, too. They’re all mangled from the blunder and seethingly angry at the Eds. They chase them down, but not in a funny way where the Eds get beat off screen or anything like that, but in a serious “when we find them, we’re going to skin them alive” fashion. Honestly, this is starting to sound less like a cartoon and more like the beginning of a crime film. Not even the Eds desperate and fear-filled attitude while being chased helps to damper it down a bit.

Following that, however, there is still the same touch of comedy and innocence that usually follows the exploits of the characters of this show, especially on the Eds part where there are tons of gags and jokes exhibited during their journey, especially on the part of Ed and Eddy. However, another element is being subverted all the while. You see, in the original series, Double D got a lot of flack from the group, mostly from being the one who had the most common sense and a better understanding of the mortality of their actions. In the movie, Double D is being constantly shat on, both physically and mentally, while Ed and Eddy parade around like fools. Most people already assume this from the original show, but yeah, if I were Double D, I’d probably get sick of it. However, the movie acts on this desire by having Double D finally call out Eddy (not Ed because honestly, he’s just parroting Eddy) for his bullshit, but more on that later.

The Cul-De-Sac Kids get their own slice of subversion as well, most prominently in the character of Nazz. In the show, she started off as the average hot chick who wasn’t really too aware of her surroundings, but towards the end she became a lot more of a ditz. In the movie, she becomes a lot more self-aware than either of these past incarnations, mostly in her interactions with Kevin. Now, I mentioned Kevin was a big jerk in the series, and he totally is, which is why Nazz pretty much treats him like a jerk throughout the entire movie, including various acts of anger and violence like throwing his bike into the river after he makes it clear he is more interested in the bike than his “supposed” relationship with Nazz. It’s the total opposite of his treatment in the show, where he is a gigantic jerk treated as “the cool guy” or the “ring leader” of the Cul-De-Sac Kids if you will.

There are other subversions at play as well. Rolf, who is shown to be a lot angrier and strange towards the end of the series, occasionally mistreats or is too hash his animals, and still comes out on top like Kevin as one of the “cool guys”, or at least someone much more tolerable than the Eds, and yet, he’s constantly getting the business from Wilfred as he treks on, being punished for his irrational ways instead of rewarded like Kevin. Also, Sarah, while not much, gets her own subversion when along the while traveling with Jimmy bumps into the Kanker Sisters and acts as their pack mule for a little while. Sure it doesn’t last long, but it’s something and I’m sure you’d feel a little sorry for her after a bit. I believe all of this can, in one way or another, can be grouped into the Karma Houdini Warranty trope, where a character described as a Karma Houdini who usually gets away with bad things (i.e. Kevin, Rolf and Sarah) finally gets their comeuppance.

On a side note: Johnny 2x4 gets subversion as well, one that will play more importantly near the end of the movie. After the Eds run off, he and Plank don their “Captain Melonhead and Splinter The Wonderwood” personas and jet off to stop the Eds, and instead of going off in a blaze of glory and performing seemingly impossible feats for a boy his age and basically becoming his own version of the “cool guy” to the CDK… he spends the majority having difficulties riding a bus. If you think that’s bad, just wait until the end.

Going back to the story: at this point, we’ve seen a lot of funny and a lot of lighthearted stuff, sans some slightly stressful or tense-filled situations here and there, but for the most part, it’s just seeing the Eds on a journey. It’s all fine and good and works with the context of the narrative, but at this point, its clear that Double D is very annoyed by Ed and Eddy’s (especially Eddy’s) foul play.

The Eds find themselves near a swamp, and Eddy and Ed start messing around. This leads to them pulling a prank on Double D where it appears that they are drowning. Just like before, subversion strikes and plays the entire situation like Double D is about to see his two (and only) friends in the whole world drown. However, at the last second, Ed and Eddy reappear and laugh it off like it supposed to be one big joke. But it’s not. Double D, distraught, walks off, and after Eddy tries to get him back on track, what follows is a massive tirade on both Eddy and Double D’s part, calling each other out for their own respective faults and mistakes. Of course, Double D is clearly presented as being in the right here as Eddy is also clearly the only one at fault.

This leads to one of the more important subversions of the movie: Eddy’s character. Now, granted that he is my favorite character, I’ve enjoyed his antics in the show, especially his one-liners and overall entertaining demeanor, but even I can admit that he’s also kind of a huge prick. After trying to make Double D feel bad for lashing out at him, with Double D walking off towards home, he suddenly breaks down and admits how bad he really is, breaking down in tears and basically accepting that Double D is right. This is the first of two major revelations Eddy with have in his character. The second? Well, let’s keep going:

After their bickering, Double D and Eddy make up, the trio now re-energized and ready to continue on their way. Eventually, we reach the end of the journey and the end of the movie, where we see that Eddy’s brother lives at an amusement park that he possibly also works at. We meet Eddy’s brother for the first time in full view, and at first, we think that he’ll be a pretty cool guy considering how much Eddy has hyped him up over the course of the series. However, trouble strikes when the Cul-De-Sac Kids and the Kankers meet up at the spot. At first they cower in fear of Eddy sicking his older sibling on them, and just when we think that the Eds are getting off scot free, Eddy’s Brother offers them shelter… but only after a game of “ Say Uncle” with Eddy.

It is in this instance that everything about Eddy’s Brother is made to be a complete lie. In some of the most realistically disturbing minutes I’ve witnessed in a cartoon, Eddy’s Brother abuses and bullies Eddy in exchange for Eddy’s request. More subversion plays as it did with the injuries of the CDS Kids as the pain Eddy endures is not amusing in the slightest. It’s straight up torture. Mild torture, mind you, but still torture, and all the while Eddy’s Brother has a sick, sadistic smile plastered on his face. Everything that Eddy made his brother out to be is now replaced with the notion that he’s a vicious sociopath who gets a kick out of messing with those who are weaker than him.

After this comes Eddy’s second revelation in which he admits that he made up all the stuff he’s ever touted his brother to be or do, and in turn fully develops from a mouthy jerk with a huge ego into a abused sibling with a superiority complex finally atoning to the full front of his mistakes. And before the abuse can continue, Double D, Ed, and the CDK (who witnessed the entirety of Eddy’s torture and his confessions) team up to take down Eddy’s Brother in one fell swoop. In this instance, the long-running feud between the Eds and Kids comes to an end as the Kids, now understanding the brunt of the Eds' socially awkward struggles, decide to bury the hatchet and accept them with open arms.

And in horrible timing, Jonny and Plank arrive on the scene, completely unaware of how the Eds have redeemed himself. He starts beating on Eddy and then gets a beating from the CDK in return. We end the story with a reprisal of “Friends Are There To Help You” (which is kind of ironic considering what episode is comes from…), the Kankers dragging Eddy’s Brother into his trailer for some, ahem, “playtime”, and Jonny, enraged by the CDK turning on him, dons a new villainous alter ego as “The Gourd” with Plank at his side as “Timber The Dark Shard” and seemingly plans revenge… until “Timber” breaks the fourth wall and lets him know that the movie is ended. Cue one last fourth wall joke and the movie ends.

Now, with my highly detailed analysis, you must assume that I enjoyed everything that I got out of “Big Picture Show”… you assumed right. I love this movie to pieces. It has enough of the same charm that the original series has while at the same time throwing in enough clever subversion to make it an excellent gift for the fans who have stuck along for the ride. Now if I have to critique anything major (even though I don’t wanna, but blegh), it would be the ending. The ending is really the only element that most fans see as a major blemish, and I can understand why: it seemingly comes out of nowhere and just has the Eds and CDK make up and become friends after only a few short sequences… but you know what, is it really as contrived as it seems? If you look closer, maybe you’ll see how Eddy’s confession and Ed/Double D standing up to Eddy’s Brother serves as a message to the CDK about their hidden depths. Honestly, Eddy’s speech is enough to have me convinced. I mean, it’s not like Ed and Double D have much to really be sorry about in the first place, they’re mostly just Eddy’s lackeys in terms of the scam business.

So in short, this movie is great. I’m sorry, but I can’t bring myself to dislike the ending even though I can see why some people might. After years and years of screwball antics, the Eds finally have something even better than the sweetest Jawbreakers in the world: the sweetness of being accepted by others and themselves. If you’re a fan of EEnE, you will get the biggest kick out of it, and even if you’re not a huge fan, it’s still a fairly interesting and well-written movie to indulge in.

I give “Ed, Edd, n Eddy’s Big Picture Show” a big 10 out of 10.

 

Now, you might notice that I did this review a bit differently, sort of providing more summary than just review. I did this mainly because I wanted to fully showcase the examples that fell under my analysis and to better prove my point. It’s mostly because it’s easy to get a hold of the underlying theme of the premise. Either way, I hope you enjoyed and stick around for more reviews!

 

Next up… well… you know… 

Edited January 4, 2016 by Firaga Sensei

[Shulk 8,623]

I actually do vaguely remember this one, mostly Eddy's brother being a massive jerk... I really need to watch this show again at some point.

[TheKingdomkid 1,194]

I actually remember this quit a bit and was really excited when they announced the movie back then and really enjoyed it myself with this whole series being my all time favorite Cartoon Network show, I have to say my favorite part is at the end of the movie where Double D breaks the fourth wall saying all the seasons and specials they had that it had to end this way, loved it.

[Hero of Light XIV 2,381]

Nicely done, I really enjoyed this movie too. It felt like the perfect tying up of every loose end the series had...well, apart from poor Johnny turning into a villain at the end, but it wouldn't be a EEnE movie without a closing gag I guess. It's nice to see a good cartoon actually end on a high note.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

I really love your analysis on the movie. It certainly gave me chills. I felt like I was reading a creepypasta! I really appreciate the hard work you put into this review, and I enjoyed the review a lot. It really makes me want to watch the entire series again and watch the movie. (I didn't watch the movie, only the show.) Just the movie being titled 'Big Picture Movie' tells a lot on its own.

Something interesting too, is the creator of Ed Edd and Eddy (who I can't remember his name) created two somewhat popular cartoons in the past that were very dark. One was titled The Brother's Grunt which aired on MTV a long time ago around in the 1990's (the cartoon is very dark and rather... Disturbing, creepy, disgusting and outright weird) while he also made another cartoon short about a Butcher (forgot what it was called as well, but it was basically a rather gory cartoon where a Butcher accidentally cuts off his own limbs). It's really interesting to think about this, as it definitely makes you wonder if these dark themes are from the creator's past works.

[Trece the Xam ( ▀ ͜͞ʖ▀) 3,859]

I didn't even know there was a film of it, maybe it wasn't even announced where I live. Anyway, this was indeed a great TV series.

Edited October 15, 2015 by Xamtehwt Trece

[KeybladeLordCheeseCurd 1,542]

I loved this movie so much. Too bad that they don't show it anymore and instead keep showing TTG reruns.

[Ultimus Grid 546]

Oh man that movie.  It was a great way to end the show.  Really loved it (except seeing the truth of Eddy's brother and the whole thing with Jonny at the very end).

[Firaga 5,947]

Something interesting too, is the creator of Ed Edd and Eddy (who I can't remember his name) created two somewhat popular cartoons in the past that were very dark. One was titled The Brother's Grunt which aired on MTV a long time ago around in the 1990's (the cartoon is very dark and rather... Disturbing, creepy, disgusting and outright weird) while he also made another cartoon short about a Butcher (forgot what it was called as well, but it was basically a rather gory cartoon where a Butcher accidentally cuts off his own limbs). It's really interesting to think about this, as it definitely makes you wonder if these dark themes are from the creator's past works.

 

Oh-ho, no it's not... I've only seen snippets of Brothers Grunt and that Lupo The Butcher short, but Ed Edd N Eddy might as well be Citizen Kane next to those pieces.

 

Danny Antonucci (that's the creator) wouldn't have needed to take inspiration from his past work anyway. BG and LTB was all style and no substance, nothing but a parade of disgusting visuals to get a reaction. I mentioned that EEnE was always mostly mean-spirited, and that is true, but it doesn't just shove violence or figurative vomit on a screen for the sake of it. The jokes, the slapstick, and everything else has a science to it.

 

The fact that this film went down a darker path is just a testament of its progression. It's the smart thing to do for a cartoon like this, and I'm sure Antonucci was well aware of that.