Creators Dario Russo and David Ashby first caught my attention with their International Spiderman! series, the online adventures of, well, Italian Spiderman, a hilarious spoof of action, science fiction and horror '70s movie. What I loved especially about that show was the accuracy of the period - they even used a 16mm camera to capture the feel of this 'lost film'.
With Danger 5 they're carving a unique niche for themselves as satirists of '60s and '70s pop culture, TV shows and cinema. The series follows the five members of a special team on their missions in an absurd version of World War II, where Adolf Hitler has created a way of sexually transmitting Nazism!, has armed intelligent dinosaurs, has turned POWs into super-robots, operates from Casablanca-like clubs, has almost stolen all the world's monuments, and is protected by invulnerable diamond girls.
At the start of every episode the team is briefed by the eagle-headed Colonel, whose bullying of Claire, a stuck-up British officer, is always hilarious, as is his constant reminder that their mission is to 'kill Hitler!" Each member basically plays to national stereotypes: there's Jackson, the gung-ho American; Pierre, the joyful French who befriends everyone and makes mean martinis; Tucker, the square-jawed, all-American hero; and Ilsa, the tough-as-nails sexy Russian. They're all excellently played by a team of newcomers, who show great talent in playing their characters badly. Everything in the series is supposed to be bad and corny, from the acting to the absurd dialogue, down to the fake and cheap-looking sets and props. Likewise the Italians are all festive people, the British are all stiff upper lips, and regarding the Swiwss, well, we find out their blood is actually made of money. No surprise there really.
Also excellent is Carmine Russo as Adolf Hitler. Hitler hasn't been used this comically since The Producers. There's a running gag about Hitler and a window that never feels stale.
If you like spoofs of old shows, or if you're into the absurd humor of The Mighty Boosh, you ought to give Danger 5 a look. Its seven episodes won't disappoint.
With Danger 5 they're carving a unique niche for themselves as satirists of '60s and '70s pop culture, TV shows and cinema. The series follows the five members of a special team on their missions in an absurd version of World War II, where Adolf Hitler has created a way of sexually transmitting Nazism!, has armed intelligent dinosaurs, has turned POWs into super-robots, operates from Casablanca-like clubs, has almost stolen all the world's monuments, and is protected by invulnerable diamond girls.
At the start of every episode the team is briefed by the eagle-headed Colonel, whose bullying of Claire, a stuck-up British officer, is always hilarious, as is his constant reminder that their mission is to 'kill Hitler!" Each member basically plays to national stereotypes: there's Jackson, the gung-ho American; Pierre, the joyful French who befriends everyone and makes mean martinis; Tucker, the square-jawed, all-American hero; and Ilsa, the tough-as-nails sexy Russian. They're all excellently played by a team of newcomers, who show great talent in playing their characters badly. Everything in the series is supposed to be bad and corny, from the acting to the absurd dialogue, down to the fake and cheap-looking sets and props. Likewise the Italians are all festive people, the British are all stiff upper lips, and regarding the Swiwss, well, we find out their blood is actually made of money. No surprise there really.
Also excellent is Carmine Russo as Adolf Hitler. Hitler hasn't been used this comically since The Producers. There's a running gag about Hitler and a window that never feels stale.
If you like spoofs of old shows, or if you're into the absurd humor of The Mighty Boosh, you ought to give Danger 5 a look. Its seven episodes won't disappoint.