Lazer Team is a first feature film from comedy troupe Rooster Teeth, creators of the longest running web-series Red vs. Blue. Breaking records for its insanely successful crowdfunding campaign – the film raised over $2,480,000 after setting a $650,000 goal – and premiering at Fantastic Fest 2015, the science fiction comedy has a lot going for it.
With the release of the trailer we can see some well polished special effects, compelling action sequences, and capable performances; however the film also shares a lot in common with early 2000s comedies, with a whitewashed cast and ‘not for girls’ sensibility. It looks like Super Troopers, or Evolution, or even American Pie or Road Trip is you squint your mind hard enough.
The jokes are funny, but even from this brief glimpse they fall to easily into misogyny; the men are all man-bod whilst the female actors are models; it also appears to be a movie that could err a little too far into the realms of gross-out humour. Films like this always remind me to see what is there rather than what isn’t, i.e. diversity, gender equality, etc, and for a first feature this looks like a more than capable space romp, with an irreverent sense of humour and enough action to get your teeth into.
Lazer Team is directed by Matt Hullum, and stars Burnie Burns, Gavin Free, Michael Jones, Colton Dunn, Allie DeBerry, and Alan Ritchson. Check out the Official Synopsis and Trailer below:
“When four small-town losers stumble across an alien crash site containing an incredible battle suit, they soon find themselves responsible for the fate of the entire planet. With this new alien equipment genetically bound to them, and the government hot on their heels, the foursome have no choice but to work together as one to save humanity. All they have to do is learn to use a strange alien device meant for only one-person, train for a battle against an omnipotent enemy, and not kill each other in the process. They may not be strong, smart, or talented… but they’re Lazer Team”.
#Peace.Love.WhiteMaleComedy
