Futurama: Bender's Big Score

It's back! Hurrah!

Matt Groening's lesser-loved, but very arguably better, animated show returns with this straight-to-DVD release. Along with the show, the entire main cast return, along with many of the show's favourite recurring characters, such as the Hypnotoad and Robot Santa.

The story is great, and exploits the strength that Futurama has always had over The Simpsons - the ability to build complex, yet very touching storylines, without suffering from being overly schmaltzy. The plot, while almost impossible to recount in detail, involves a group of aliens who scam the main cast out of everything they own, and then, using a time travelling portal discovered on Fry's posterior, proceed to steal everything of value from human history. In the midst of this, is a typically touching story of Fry's (generally unrequited) love for Leela.

There's not a huge amount left to say about this without ruining the story, but that's not to say it's not great. It's packed with laughs, and never once loses momentum throughout it's eighty-five minutes.

Thankfully, this is the first of four new Futurama films, with the second expected to be released sometime this year. If it is anything like this calibre, then it can't be soon enough.

An easy A+. Fantastic.