Blu-ray Review: 'It's a Trap!'
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| (C) 2010 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |
“Family Guy Presents: It’s a Trap!”
aka “Episode VI: It’s a Trap!”
Episode 165 of “Family Guy”
Directed by Peter Shin
Original Air Date: May 22, 2011
Written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and David A. Goodman
Starring: Seth McFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Carrie Fisher, Mike Henry, Dee Bradley Baker, Carrie Fisher, H.Jon Benjamin, John G. Brennan, Adam West
(Note: The unrated Blu-ray and DVD edition of this episode was released before Fox aired the made-for-broadcast version.)
A long time ago, after "M*A*S*H", but before After "M*A*S*H"...
Seth McFarlane’s animated series “Family Guy” has parodied “Star Wars” many times during its run on the Fox television networks. Most of the “Star Wars”-related jokes are quick throwaway bits embedded in the show’s regular 22-minute long episodes and only last a few seconds.
Starting in 2007, McFarlane and the “Family Guy” creative team produced a trio of double-length episodes based on the original “Star Wars Trilogy.” The first two episodes are “Blue Harvest” (“Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope”), “Something, Something, Something Dark Side” (“Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.”
In 2010, “The Family Guy Trilogy” concluded with director Peter Shin’s “It’s a Trap!” Written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and David A. Goodman, this is a spoof of 1983’s “Star Wars - Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.”
Originally titled “I Have a Bad Feeling About This,” “It’s a Trap!” is an abridged retelling of “Return of the Jedi” tweaked for comic effect, “Family Guy” style.
The episode follows the narrative format of “Blue Harvest” and “Something, Something, Something Dark Side.” As in the previous “Star Wars” episodes, the Griffins’ power goes out while they’re watching television. Reluctantly, they pass the time by revisiting the conclusion of George Lucas’s Original Trilogy. Five of the six Griffins takes on the role of a major “Star Wars” character:
- Peter Griffin (Seth McFarlane) plays Han Solo
- Lois Griffin (Alex Borstein) plays Princess Leia
- Chris Griffin (Seth Green) plays Luke Skywalker
- Brian Griffin (McFarlane) plays Chewbacca the Wookiee
- Stewie Griffin (McFarlane) plays Lord Darth Vader
In a running gag, Meg Griffin (Mila Kunis) is relegated to a brief cameo as a “Star Wars” movie monster. This time she portrays the Sarlacc in Tatooine’s Great Pit of Carkoon.
Various “Family Guy” supporting cast members, including Mike Henry’s Cleveland, Adam West’s Mayor Adam West, and John G. Brennan’s Mort Goldman appear in “It’s a Trap” as Rebel or Imperial characters. The episode also includes cameos by characters voiced by actors linked to “Star Wars” projects. Carrie Fisher, who plays Leia in the Classic Trilogy, “Star Wars - Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” and the upcoming "Star Wars - Episode VIII: The Last Jedi," reprises her role of Pete’s boss Angela (Rebel leader Mon Mothma). Dee Bradley Baker from “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” plays Klaus from “American Dad” as Admiral Ackbar.
Chris Griffin as Luke Skywalker: Master Yoda, is Darth Vader my father?
Carl as Yoda: Yeah, it's either Darth Vader or Paul Reiser, but they don't want to know which one is your real father, so, they're gonna raise you together.
“It’s a Trap!” follows the plot from “Return of the Jedi.” While Darth Vader (Stewie) and the Emperor build a second Death Star and plot to turn Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side, the Rebels led by Princess Leia head to Tatooine to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt’s palace. Along the way, Luke discovers his true heritage, and the Rebel Alliance prepares for the final battle with the Empire.
My Take
Stewie Griffin as Darth Vader: Oh, my God, that was absolute hell! I just... I don't understand why... I mean, we're in a galaxy far, far away, and we still have to change in Atlanta.
Since this is a “Family Guy” version of “Jedi,” writers Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and David A. Goodman take a no-holds-barred approach to the episode’s visual and dialogue gags.
As in “Blue Harvest” and “Something, Something, Something Dark Side,” the humor is hit-and-miss. The funniest are gags that refer to the “Star Wars” Trilogy’s storyline:
Chris Griffin as Luke Skywalker: [to Jabba] Greetings, exalted one. It's me, Luke Skywalker. I seek an audience with Your Slimness to bargain for Captain Solo's life. As a token of my good will, I present to you a gift, these two droids.
Glenn Quagmire as C-3PO: Wait a minute, does he have the right to give us away? He just stole us from his dead uncle.
However, other jokes in “It’s a Trap!” don’t work as well. A spoof of the sequence where Han, Leia, Chewbacca, Luke, R2-D2, C-3PO and Lando prepare to fight Jabba’s minions at the Pit of Carkoon goes on...and.on...and on. The heroes just exchange silent glances as John Williams’ musical cue for the scene is repeated endlessly. Die-hard “Family Guy” fans might find this seqiuence funny. Others, especially those that dislike a similar gag about a couch in “Blue Harvest,” may find this bit unamusing.
“It’s a Trap!” also has a couple of recurring gags introduced in earlier installments of the saga, including Meg Griffin-as-featured-creature and funny references to Oscar-winning composer John Williams:
Chris Griffin as Luke Skywalker: Oh! Can you play the theme from E.T., John Williams?
John Williams: No, but I can do the theme to Entertainment Tonight.
The home media edition of “It’s a Trap!” contains adult-oriented dialogue not used in the version that aired on Fox in May 2011. Some of the jokes are off-color and are not suitable for young viewers:
Stewie Griffin as Darth Vader: What the hell, man? I was gonna make it!
Chris Griffin as Luke Skywalker: Thanks for watching over me and keeping me safe.
Stewie Griffin as Darth Vader: F--k you! You murdered me, you ass.
“Episode VI: It’s a Trap!” is not as witty as “Blue Harvest” or “Something, Something, Something Dark Side,” but it still entertains. McFarlane and his team of writers, animators, and voice actors are “Star Wars” fans, and it shows. Even when the jokes point out glaring plot holes in George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan’s script, the quality of the artwork reflects the “Family Guy” crew’s love of the original trilogy.
Peter Griffin as Han Solo: All right, everybody, hands in the air! All right. Now I want you to take off your helmets, go outside and dig up your own graves with them.
Lois Griffin as Princess Leia: Han, that's kind of dark.
Peter Griffin as Han Solo: Shut up! There's enough cutesy crap in this movie. I think we all need this. Now get outside!
Special Features
- Deleted Scenes
- Trivial Pursuit
- Dinner and a Movie
- Family Guy at Comic-con 2010
- Peter Shin Draws
- Making the Scene
- Animatic
- Original Voice Over Skit
Blu-ray Specifications
Video
Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Subtitles
English SDH, French, Spanish
Discs
Packaging
Slipcover in original pressing
Playback
Region A, B
Miscellaneous Information
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- Rated: NR (Not Rated)
- Studio: 20th Century Fox
- DVD Release Date: December 21, 2010
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