Lazer Team

Studio: YouTube Red
Directed by Matt Hullum

Jan 28, 2016 By J.A. Kordosh Web Exclusive

The most recent example of a fan-based, crowd-funded film, Lazer Team marks the first foray into feature lengths from Rooster Teeth, the studio known for creating humorous clips set in the video game world of Halo. Unfortunately, the success of their crowd funding has not translated into success on the big screen.

Lazer Team tells the tale of four unlikely heroes who stumble upon incredible gifts from an alien race and must use them to save Earth from extinction. It’s a simple setup for what should be a fun throwback to 1980s sci-fi flicks but the overall lack of creativity and uninspired humor sinks any hopes for Rooster Teeth’s maiden voyage.

There is an intriguing twist here of a hero robbed of his destiny, yet the time spent with the other tired, stereotypical characters pushes this idea to the periphery. The production values are low and the design of the aliens and their technology is even worse. Low budget science fiction can work when there is comedic value to the crude special effects but even lowbrow laughs of that kind are absent. Rooster Teeth has found success piggy-backing off the established Halo universe but when forced to create their own story there’s little to laugh at and even less to think about. Nonsensical dick jokes (note: x-rays do not make people naked) and lame jabs at selfie culture are the brave comedic choices found in the film.

Actor Colton Dunn, as a high school footballer fallen on hard times, is the lone bright spot injecting some life into the rote script. Oddly, astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson makes a brief cameo. It may never be known why he decided to associate himself with such an unfunny, unimaginative movie but at least the rest of us can avoid such a cruel fate.

www.lazerteamthemovie.com

Author rating: 2.5/10

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