Written by Shelby-Liza Ndumbi
What’s up, Cupcakes! - I’m back for another one of my reviews. I’m posting this one on early Monday morning because I’m a slug.
Sunday Cream is where I’ll be giving my likes and dislikes/hate of movies I’ve recently finished... after three days or more than two weeks.
Why? Because I watch movies like that. It’s hilarious knowing how my mind works.
If you haven’t read my last entries, they will be posted under ‘Sunday Cream’. Last time I spoke about Dangerous Beauty 1998 where it had sex, desire, calamity and a witch trial? I’m all for the last one when it makes sense to have it there.
Today, I’m going back to animation. I was on Tubi when I found the Dex Hamilton movie and decided to give it a watch.
I bothered to engage with it because I watched a 2D animated film called Dex Hamilton: Fire & Ice weeks prior, so I thought “This might not be too bad to try.” I think I was somewhat wrong… It took me a little over a month to complete. I know, I’m slow and weird. What’s new?
I’m not sure, but some of you might remember there being an animated series in the past, Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist (2008-09), so this will be like memory lane for you guys.
All those damn smiles.
There will be spoilers for the ones who don’t want their childhood slightly altered… lol
The film follows young entomologist, Dex Hamilton and his team, Jenny the engineer, Zap the human-bug hybrid, and Tung the mutant frog as they fight to protect a huge beetle from an exterminator named Hunter, whose goal is to destroy all bugs and possibly these kids’ careers.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the motion picture once I reached the middle, but when I made it to the closing credits, I’m now certain that I was bored with it, as well as happy when it finished. Dear God.
It’s said to be an Adventure-Comedy-Action family and kids movie, but the only kind of action, or stimulation of reaction, I got was when the mutated frog named Tung explodes. That was sadly riveting. Lol.
Oh, sorry. He disappears momentarily, but he was presumed dead. Same difference.
Hunter’s being as the antagonist wasn’t as fearful as I think was intended. I know it’s also a kids movie, but that doesn’t mean they deserve less than when it comes to good characters and action. It sorely missed the mark.
Doomsday? Really? I actually thought given the name that the battle between humans and bugs was going to have some spice, but no, none of that. There was a scene between Zap and Dex fighting Hunter that I suppose was meant to be a battle only for it to look like a ragged and dragged mess. Every time Zap or Dex were thrown around by Hunter’s mechanical arm, they looked like boneless meat.
Whatever it is they wanted me to feel wasn’t it because now, I’m just mad I wasted time. I may not exactly be the age demographic, yet I have the mind and heart of a child, when you say action, you must deliver.
….Although, they were able to deliver an arrogant character such as Hamilton himself.
Dex has a lack of compassion when it comes to people, but he shows more love towards bugs and insects. I did applaud him for caring for the little guys, just like how I am with horses, yet his unconcern for human life, including his team and friends, is a little extra.
He’s literally the type of person who would keep reaching to capture a bug at the expense of his friends. It can go as far as death. Like what happened to Tung.
The beetle they were able to save from Hunter on a distant planet at the start of the film, had the means to be hostile due to the high-pitched sound from the antagonist’s watch, so it caused the electric explosion that could have killed Tung, if this were a PG-17 film, as he saves Dex.
That’s the moment where the protagonist finally puts more thought into his friends. Somewhat.
He apologizes too quickly, and the matter is resolved much too fast. There was no room to really be angry with the guy long enough for us, or me, to feel something for Dex’s grief and guilt.
They could have waited til later to really give the audience time to be frustrated or sad, too. They’re meant to make us feel something for the character, so we could enjoy a redemption of some kind or character progression, no? Because I didn’t like it.
What do you Cupcakes think? — In a general sense, would it be better to create an interactive character (antagonist, protagonist, and everyone in between) for us to care about their exploits, their possible downfall and rise rather than just an empty carcass that they expect we wouldn’t complain about? Leave a comment below. I’ll be happy to hear your thoughts. ☺️
We’ll move on from the rant I just had and talk about the characters’ animation design.
I found it to be nothing of noteworthy notice. It felt bland to me. I’m mentioning this because while watching the movie I thought that Zap’s hair resembled a paint brush, but also another famous character with hair that sticks upwards, too.
Jimmy Neutron.
I hope people aren’t going to be too mad, but I never watched Jimmy Neutron when I was little. However, I remember the show. I always thought Jimmy’s hair was melted licked chocolate that someone failed to finish and just left it on the boy’s head. Or poop. Lol.
Zap’s hair is not exactly the same, but it reminds me of Neutron’s. Am I wrong for thinking this?
I did like the designs for Zap and Jenny’s uniforms.
In terms of personality, Zap became my favourite character during the entire film, Jenny definitely takes second place while Tung takes third. And Dex… I think you know where he isn’t going.
Oh, oh, oh, I almost forgot to tell you guys of some dog crap nonsense towards the end of the motion picture. Dex helps the beetle back to its queen… in space. Where there’s no oxygen and somehow doesn’t die without wearing an astronaut suit!
Wha—-?
I think someone thought we wouldn’t notice. 🙄😪
To close off, I say this deserves a 6/10 rating for my troubles. Quite frankly, I think it’s watchable, but not very good either. There are worst things out there such as: Sir Billi (2012), Kiara the Brave (2011), A Car’s Life: Sparky’s Big Adventure (2006), Trolland (2016), Foodfight! (2012), and so on.
So, I’m not encouraging you to watch it, but I am trying to lessen the blow of inevitable boredom if you do proceed.
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Hope you enjoyed reading, and I’ll write to you Cupcakes later.
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