Unlike Bender’s Big Score, Beast with a Billion Backs is a perfectly good introduction to the Futurama universe. The continuity is in place, but has very little bearing on the plot. You don’t need a degree in Advanced Futurama Studies to get all the jokes. Let’s face it, the Head of Richard Nixon is funny, whether you’ve seen the show before or not.
Besides the aforementioned David Cross and Brittany Murphy, Dan (Homer Simpson) Castellaneta and Stephen Hawking turn up as guest voices. (The Robot Devil and Stephen Hawking’s head, respectively.) The DVD (carbon neutral, by the way) is packed with special features, including a lively and excessively geeky commentary track, the animated segments from the Futurama video game, deleted scenes (one of which features the death of a long-time favorite), and a couple of neat featurettes. I especially enjoyed the short segment where David Cross talks about voiceover work and gives some insights into Yivo. There’s also a trailer for the next Futurama movie, Bender’s Game. (Bender takes on Tolkien? I’m there!) It’s a great package, and well worth owning. Sure, Comedy Central will air Beast with a Billion Backs eventually, but you shouldn’t have to wait like some kind of chump.
Futurama: Beast with a Billion Backs is excellent and well worth the wait.
Score: Five Beans. And not just regular beans – Diamondillium Beans!
