Family Guy: Blue Harvest DVD: Review By slysnide

This special episode was hatched when "Family Guy" creators journeyed to Skywalker Ranch to get permission from "Lucasfilm Limited" to air "Star Wars" references on episodes of the show. While there, they managed to obtain the rights to do 3 spinoff episodes based on the original trilogy. This was the first of that group...

When the caption: "It is a time of civil war, and renegade paragraphs floating through space" appeared on the screen, I knew I was in for something extra special. Or maybe it was the "Bush/Cheney" bumper sticker on the Star Destroyer? Don't worry, I won't spoil it for you.

Anyhow, it is simple things like that, and the names

Judd Nelson

Helen Reddy

& Rush Limbaugh

in the same credit piece that make this mini-movie what it is.

In the beginning and ending of the episode, the Griffin family plays themselves, as it is Peter whom is telling the story of the Star Wars. "Let's begin with part four."

The spoof stars Chris Griffin (Seth Green) as Luke Skywalker whom wants to join the rebellion against the evil galactic empire, and through a series of bizarre events featuring Mr. & Mrs. Pewterschmit, Herbert, and John Williams for the tension, that does happen. Like in the real show, Chris is rather dimwitted at times, but actually a bit smarter due to the fact that he has to deliver similar and exact lines spoken by Mark Hamill in the real movie. His role also features punchlines and one liners that you would've expected Luke to say in the real movie, like when the two guys at the bar threaten his life for no reason. "I don't even know you." This was unarguably Chris' smartest episode in the series.

Starring as Obi-Wan Kenobi is Herbert (Mike Henry), the dirty old man who has a crush on Chris. His first line reflects it. And then several sexual innuendos follow to speed up the story to fit the 48 minute runtime. It's typical Herbert in Star Wars fashion. But the musical number with the stormtroopers of "I had the time of my life" is certainly the punchline to Herbert's sensual comments & feelings towards Chris. Herbert's ravings were all the more funny because you see him as Obi-Wan Kenobi rather than Herbert, so it seems that much creepier. "Did he say strap in or strap on?" Alec Guiness' (RIP) performance will never be seen the same way again after watching this!

Peter Griffin (Seth McFarlane) plays Han Solo, "the only actor who's career isn't destroyed by this movie." {certainly true. Mark Hamill took offense to that and therefore neglected to do a commentary} Peter also rushes the story along with punchlines and one liners that aren't too out there for the character of Han Solo, and he makes some pretty good points as well. Like how 3hrs after Chris discovers the Force, he judges Han negatively for not believing in it. This role was actually one of the two closest to the character's they play on Family Guy in regards to their actions and words. Peter was perfect as Han Solo though.

The other closest to their TV character was Lois Griffin (Alex Borstein) who played Princess Leia, whom was captured & detained by Darth Vader while returning home from buying space groceries. She uses her common sense and is rather shocked at times at the stupidity of her rescuers. "Aren't you a little fat to be a stormtrooper?" Lois fit the part wonderfully.

Co-starring as Darth Vader, was obviously Stewie Griffin (Seth McFarlane) who finally seems to have achieved world domination and more! He mostly makes one liners and punchlines rather than repeating exact dialogue from the film, and due to this, he only gets screentime in the beginning and ending. He's absent from the middle part mostly, and loaded with knowldege about ridiculous things and cracks bad jokes he thinks are funny. But for the scenes he was in, Stewie was extremely enjoyable. "And with today's gas prices not a minute too soon." Just like Stewie's bad punchlines.

Brian Griffin (Seth McFarlane) plays Chewbacca, whom is possibly the smartest out of everyone in the spoof, much like on the show. "It's probably full of disease. I'm not jumping in there." His character had no understandable dialogue in the real movie, and so, since Brian speaks, Chewie's body movements and Han's interpretations of the real Chewbacca's language suggested that...Chewie was smart. {even actor Peter Mayhew whom played Chewie had english written lines on set for timing reference for the other actors, so that script is sitting around somewhere} Brian being my favorite character for how he doesn't seem to fit all too well with the rest of the family wasn't too funny in this spoof since it couldn't be played upon. But it wasn't surprising that he got the part. Since Chewbacca was the only hairy alien, and the real Chewbacca was inspired by George Lucas' dog Indiana.

Co-starring as R2-D2 is Cleaveland Brown (Mike Henry). This was by far the best character in the spoof since R2-D2 also never did have any lines. Just whistles, beeps & boops. And the translations by C-3PO in the real movie hinted that they were all snide remarks, and they were...according to writer Alec Sulkin: "Yeah! That's how we do it in my neighborhood bitch!" But R2 can be easily distracted at times. "Publisher's Clearing House!" But overall, THIS R2-D2 was straight outta the hood with all his attitude, his do-rag, and his doping habits.

Co-starring as C-3PO is Glenn Quagmire (Seth McFarlane). Rather than being worried all the time, he's horny all the time, just like the real Quagmire, and he cracks sex jokes. He had some pretty hysterical one liners, and was by far a most memorable character.

And finally, Mayor West co-stars as Grand Moff Tarkin (Adam West--wow! He doesn't play himself this time!). His role was limited of course, but he relayed the same lines as the real Tarkin, plus some one liners. "She said no. Should we still do it?" He was just as funny and dimwitted as the mayor he plays on the show.

Other characters making cameos from the "Family Guy" universe include Meg as the Diagona, Neil as a Jawa, Ollie & Tom & Diane as the Death Star's news crew, the weird voiced guy as Greedo, and Joe Swanson as Biggs Darklighter.

Other strange cameos include Redd Fox, Helen Reddy, Rush Limbaugh, Simply Red, Judd Nelson, the Red October, Magic Johnson, Danny Elfman, the alien from American dad, and the spoof's director Dominic Palacino. (not all play themselves)

Certain scenes like the infamous crevasse swinging, Jabba the Hutt scene, and hiding beneath the floor plates on the Millenium Falcon had to be cut for time purposes, which sucks a lot, but is understandable. Especially since if they did the crevasse swinging scene, then mother and son would have a romantic kiss. Eww! lol! "Minnie The Moocher" helped speed up the characters exit from the Falcon & boarding the Death Star.

Another funny thing was how they played up on how dimwitted the stormtroopers were in the movies. THAT was dead on! "Well I heard voices but they stopped, so I'm gonna assume there's no one in there."

And they even used the "Wilhelm Scream," express the difficulties of moving a couch, and used explosions from the original cut of the films rather than the revamped Special Editions.

Most animators of other shows could sware that many of the vistas & spaceship scenes had been rotoscoped due to how flawless they appeared in comparison to the originals, but they weren't. They were drawn completely by the animators with zero rotoscoping. Now THAT'S an achievement!

Overall, the music & cameos make this spoof worth the watch alone. But the character's interpretations of the real "Star Wars" characters make it priceless!!!

Special Features include a digital copy of the film on a second disc, a serious/funny interview between Seth McFarlane & George Lucas, the making of "Blue Harvest," the "Family Guy" Star Wars clip show, and promos. All excellent!!!

Once it became known that the rights to spoof the two sequels was official, the writer Alec Sulkin regretted code naming it "Blue Harvest" since that was the code name of the third film. Oh well!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time, here's a oneliner from Peter: "If we just take it apart and put the whole thing back together later this whole thing's gonna be a lot simpler. It's easier than we're making it."