ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 20, 1996 TAG: 9612200062
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
About the best that can be said of "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America" is that it's faithful to the source material.
Writer-director-animator-voice star Mike Judge has been creating short cartoons about the two dirty-minded little suburban teens for three years on MTV. Their first feature is built around the same smutty-goofy scatological humor and the same sophomoric political parody. The animation is crude and deliberately unattractive.
A cockamamie plot follows Beavis' and Butt-Head's tireless attempts to find a television after theirs is stolen. The search leads them to a drunken guy named Muddy who mistakes the less-than-dynamic duo for young hitmen. Off they go to Las Vegas and points beyond via bus, plane, car trunk, etc.
Eventually, the full forces of the FBI are in pursuit. Throughout, the guys are blissfully unaware of anything beyond their perpetual sexual frustration.
Social critics - both conservative and liberal - regularly cite these two characters when cataloging the decline of American culture. But what they miss is the fact that Beavis' and Butt-Head's stupidity and immaturity make them the target of their own jokes. Given the cartoon's popularity, the young audience understands that distinction. The average fan would have no trouble explaining the philosophical differences between B&B-H and Bart Simpson. They're not cool; he is.
Nothing in this film is going to win any converts, and it's not meant for anyone who appreciates good animation. But in their best moments, our two destructive heroes are actually funny.
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America **
A Paramount release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View 6. 82 minutes. Rated PG-13 for subject matter, drug use, strong language, comic violence.
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: color.by CNB