America:The Motion Picture

New on Netflix.

It’s 4th July in the US so seems appropriate that Netflix release an animated version of the countries founding. Directed by Matt Thompson and written by Dave Callaham, Channing Tatum voices a buffed up super hero sized George Washington, who must avenge the murder of his friend George Washington (Will Forte) betrayed and killed by Benedict Arnold (Andy Samberg) who it seems also happens to be a Werewolf. Encouraged by Martha (Judy Greer) he pulls together his group of avengers including Samuel Adams (Jason Mantzoukas), Thomas Edison (Olivia Nunn) and Paul Revere (Bobby Moynihan) to fight back and overthrow the British rule of Simon Pegg’s James I.

I am neither an American or history scholar, but I think it is fair to say this is not an accurate depiction of American history! What it is, in reality, is an excuse to make an adult cartoon that takes an occasional questioning look at America, its history and the country it has become. But mostly it tells jokes, blows things up and has fun using some subtle and not so subtle, references to other films.

This is a long way from a classic, but there is some fun to be had, the story telling has some very loose historic basis and ticks off the things that a non-American like me understood and I’m sure there are plenty of more “subtle” jokes for its American audience.

Vocal performances are solid, Tatum and Mantzoukas particularly carry it along and Raoul Max Trujillo as an increasingly exasperated Geronimo. The animation is well done and fits the storytelling perfectly. But it also too long and while I did laugh it isn’t quite as funny as it needed to be for 100 minutes.

This is a film that has not been met with critical acclaim, but it would be a lie to say I didn’t find some fun in it. It’s probably in its natural home on Netflix and if you are looking for some crude jokes, explosions (and sometimes you are) and an occasional look at history then this may work.