Twenty years ago, Nickelodeon’s lovable marsupial got blasted into space with his two best friends, his dog, and his house. However, with this 45-minute made-for-TV film, the latest in a series of original creator-driven film reboots, Rocko’s life is getting even more modern in ways that likely no fan could have predicted with “Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling.”
What is likely the most important thing about this film, and the reason it's so effective at recapturing the style and humor of the original show, is that the characters and stakes feel genuine. This isn’t Rocko travelling to Hollywood or stopping an alien invasion. Yes, there are some livelihoods on the line, but it’s nothing that hasn’t been done before in the original series.
The connections to the original series provide for some interesting callbacks and plot moments in this film. Without spoiling anything, it smartly calls back some background characters whose journeys had not yet been finished in the show and brings them back in very clever ways.
With the return of the original voice cast and creators, things look and sound as great as ever. Carlos Alazraqui (“Reno 911!”) does great work as Rocko, and his buddies Heffer and Filburt are reprised excellently by their original voice actors; Tom Kenny (“SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Mr. Show”) and Mr. Lawrence (“SpongeBob SquarePants”), respectively. If there’s a standout of the bunch, its creator/director/writer Joe Murray (“Camp Lazlo,” “Rocko’s Modern Life”) as Rachel Bighead, if for no other reason than for the soothing deep voice he delivers.
What will likely be talked about most from this special is its central theme of change. Avoiding spoilers, there are many plot and character elements that directly deal with themes of nostalgia and avoiding change. It’s unique for a revival of a classic series, nostalgic for many, to directly address these themes. The way “Static Cling” manages this avoids the pitfalls and ends up being well told and pretty poignant.
The slapstick and occasionally perverse humor that made the show a phenomenon is still here in spades and the inventive animation, thankfully still hand-drawn, delivers a ton of great comedic material. There’s been no updating to modern techniques; this is classic, smooth, and beautiful 90s hand-drawn animation. Sure, a few of the jokes at the 21st century’s expense are easy targets (Yet another parody of Apple and the iPhone), but they’re at least done skillfully, with great slapstick underpinning it all.
If there are any negatives with this special, it may just be that it lacks a true spark to set itself apart from the previous episodes in the series. That is technically a good thing, and the commentary on change and nostalgia is well done, but it may leave the question of “So, why now?” in audiences’ heads.
Make no mistake
though, this is still classic Rocko and very much worth watching for any fan of
the series. It’s thoroughly entertaining despite some easy gags, and the
commentary on the idea of change might be the strongest in the entire series.
It’s been a long time, but Rocko and his modern life don’t seem to have changed
a bit, and that’s in the best way possible. 4/5
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