Moonbeam City

Saw this show last week after watching a trailer on comedy central. I have to say, I'm a fan. This show is essentially a parody of every 80's cop show out there. There is an Archer-vibe to the show, especially reflective in the oversexed, often incompetent, lead in Dazzle Novak but I think Moonbeam City very much has its own niche. Frankly, I find it unfair to categorize it as an "Archer rip off," as it has its own humor and charm.

The cast is full of big names like Rob Lowe as the lead character and Elizabeth Banks, whom I detest as an actress often but she really nails it as Pizzaz. They all do a pretty good job in their roles especially Lowe who really makes Dazzle to be utterly incompetent but still charming in a "what a maroon," kind of way.

I find the jokes hit or miss, there is a lot of shock humor but honestly everything on Comedy Central so no surprise there. The problem is that there just isn't consistency. I think the funny moments, especially in episode 2, far outweigh the bad and even the bad jokes are surrounded by relatively good writing so you can at the very least enjoy the conversations.

The art style is excellent, by far my favorite animated show currently on right now stylistically. It really has that "Vice City," vibe (if you've ever played the video game) with a touch of a Frisky Dingo. The colours are vibrant and the soundtrack is pretty solid.

With solid writing, good cast and great art design you owe it to yourself to take a trip to Moonbeam City.

I really adore this show. Not only the artwork but it is actually funny. The voice cast and the characters are wonderful. Especially Rad, who is has to be my favorite from the show. Each episode they have aired so far, it always put a smile on my face.

This show really does deserves a second season. Not because I want one but to explain more about not only the series itself but we know a lot about the background of all the characters except for Rad. We need to see more of his back-story.

To be honest, I find it a lot better than Archer and I like Archer as well.

Lets get one thing our the way before we start the review, the comparison to Archer thats being made. I can see where the similarities come from but this is still different enough from Archer to be original, almost such as Family Guy is similar to The Simpsons or Mad TV was/is to SNL. While they may be similar they're also very different and the show itself stands as an homage to 80's comedy and action films. Chances are if you have watched an 80's cop movie such as RoboCop or Lethal Weapon or TV shows such as Miami Vice you'll understand the style and take for the series. But the show is not an Archer clone and unfair to describe it as such. Moonbeam City is a fantastic new addition to the adult cartoon humour that has been getting bigger in the past few years.

The Good: The show is hilarious. And the cast does a great job at keeping up with the jokes and playing their respective characters. Rob Lowe plays Dazzle a dimwitted cop who is narcissistic, stylish and probably our first Pan-Sexual character on a TV show, without any spoilers basically Dazzles character hits on women, men and even animals...You'll have to watch to get the reference. Next is Will Forte who plays Rad Cunningham Dazzles rival to be the #1 cop and replace Dazzle as much as possible, he is also another dimwitted character who only cares about pretty much overtaking Dazzle but is just as selfish and maybe a bit more dumb than him. Pizzaz Miller played by Elizabeth Banks who their chief, she basically yells and screams at them for always screwing up and seems to break a lot of windows, her purpose is to basically be a huge bitch and chew out Dazzle and Rad for their incompetence and you have to wonder why she Dazzle and Rad around with all their blunders. And then finally there's Chrysalis the only person with brains on the team and who seems to know what to do, and when. But of course with all the morons around she's used and abused by just trying to do her job. The style of the cartoon is very nice, a very 1980's neon type of glamour look. The city looks fantastic even though it's rampant with crime and just overall the overall tone gives you a feeling of 80's culture and references. And while at this point there hasn't been many episodes the jokes are great. With some funny reoccurring jokes that happen in every episode. And then the music which is a synth type of club music, from opening credits to chase scenes all the way to end credits, the music rolls and gives it that extra nostalgia feeling.

The Bad: Some of the jokes fall flat and are just not there or are hard to get, other times it tries to be funny but really t's more awkward.but frankly they're few and far between as of now there aren't that many episodes so it's hard to say if the show will get renewed, though here's hoping it will. There's not much else to really say bad as the series relies much on humour that you either may or may not like, but all in all the show is still a great gem.

Final: Moonbeam City is funny not everyone may think so, but not everyone has the same tastes. The shows animation and voice acting is top-notch and the humour either makes you laugh out loud or may fall flat, either way if you're looking for a new show thats both funny and stylish try out Moonbeam City you won't regret it.

I read a lot of reviews about this show. Different websites, different authors, but each of them has a core idea: Moonbeam City is an Archer clone and it's not funny. I'm addressing all of you who think so. What the hell are you thinking? Where are those similarities to Archer? I'll answer for you. Where are none.

Let's start with the most important component of these shows. Humor.

Humor in Archer based mainly on dialog flows, relationship between people and various spy movies cliché's. Archer has very little of visual gags and lack of visual humor at all. That's not an issue, though. Archer keeps realism bar on a sensible level. I would say, Archer has English humor.

Moonbeam city humor is complete opposite. It doesn't give a damn about relationships nor dialogs. It entertains us with absurd situations, mad people blathering senseless pathos and logic from 80- s movies. We laugh about one-line phrases covered in tons of out of place pseudo- pathos, rather than diаlog swordplay. Moonbeam city knows nothing about realism. I say, it has American humor.

Next elements are not as relevant as humor, so I'll keep it short:

Atmosphere: Archer has an office atmosphere. Colleagues in a confined space. Place changes, yeah (ISIS office, Mansion, Airship, Train), and we observe communication between well known people.

Moonbeam city has Wild Night atmosphere. Never at the same spot, introducing new characters each episode, beautiful sunsets and neon nights.

Characters: Archer - Office workers. Moonbeam City - police dorks.

Based on: Archer - Spy movies (mostly James Bond) Moonbeam City - 80's movies.

Where are similarities? What makes Moonbeam city being a clone of Archer? Jerky Cool Male Lead? Then half of marvel movies are clones of each others.

Moonbeam city is funny, when you don't expect same type of humor as from Archer. Chill, will ya?

I watched it because of the band Night Club. It's kinda funny. It's a nice show to watch once and turn your brain off to. A way to distract yourself from your own existential crises.

The characters are bland and flat. Dazzle is the pretentious jock. Pizazz Miller is like Cuddy from House M. D. or Jan from The Office. Chrysalis is the every-man. Rad is the conformist "non-conformist".

It's understandable that it wasn't renewed for a second season. It's impossible for there to be any meaningful overarching plot. Don't go into it expecting something grand and thought provoking. It's something to pick up and put away after you're done with it.