Review: Venture Bros “Hostile Makeover”

It seems impossible that it’s been over 2 years since we last saw Dr. Venture and the gang but that is the case. And if that wasn’t bad enough, season 6 will be a much too short 8 episodes.

There was a lot going on in this first episode but it mostly revolved around the contrast between Dr. Venture and the boys adapting to their new found wealth and The Monarch being poverty stricken. While Dean and Hank are buying everything in sight, including a live Giraffe like Alan in Hangover 3, (lets hope this animal has a better fate) the Monarch is basically homeless and having to live in house that is reminiscent of where Tyler Durden lives in Fight Club.

We also get to meet a lot of new characters, the best being a team of Avengers rejects for hire. They call themselves the “Crusaders Action League” or C.A.L. for short. There is a crazy action/fight sequence involving them and Brock and some arrows that have feet as arrow heads. I swear. Brock is my favorite character on the show but that has a lot to do with my all consuming man crush on Patrick Warburton. I hear that Puddy-esque voice and I’m laughing already.

The episode is extremely funny and I found myself laughing out loud several times. It is filled with the usual movie and pop culture references. Two films I like very much, “Devil” and “Beetlejuice” are highlighted in separate hilarious scenes. There is also a not so obvious homage to George Costanza’s “shwooshy” suit (at least I think it’s an homage). Listen for it when the Wide Wale is discussing a very indecent proposal with Dr. Mrs The Monarch in regards to getting his support for The Council of 13 as it is falling apart. Dr. Drew and The Naked Cowboy are also in the cross-hairs of the writers.

As always the common thread here and the engine that makes this show go is failure. Epic fail has never been so enjoyable. The Venture Bros. is one of the best written animated shows on TV and if this first episode of season 6 was any indication of things to come, I think fans of the show and people who are just checking it out for the first time are going to be very happy.