Family Guy“Baby Not On Board”
Original Air Date: Nov 2nd, 2008
Thomas Nikl - TwoCents Reviewer
thomas@thetwocentscorp.com
Family Guy must be listening to reader feedback because they are throwing more and more movie references into their episodes lately and I think that’s a good thing. I love when they do movie-scene throw backs, especially when they involve the Family Guy gang, and when they somehow reference movies. In this episode I noticed movie references to “Back to the Future”, “Ghost”, “Planes Trains and Automobiles”, “Home Alone” … and those are just the movies I remember off the top of my head without referencing my extensive notes (ok, like half a page, but still).
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[photo: FOX]
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Family Guy must be listening to reader feedback because they are throwing more and more movie references into their episodes lately and I think that’s a good thing. I love when they do movie-scene throw backs, especially when they involve the Family Guy gang, and when they somehow reference movies. In this episode I noticed movie references to “Back to the Future”, “Ghost”, “Planes Trains and Automobiles”, “Home Alone” … and those are just the movies I remember off the top of my head without referencing my extensive notes (ok, like half a page, but still).
ReplyDeleteThat leads me to the great opener where Peter acts as Marty McFly on his way to school in the intro of the first Back to the Future movie, complete with Peter singing the final line “it’s the Power of Love” (Trivia: name the band who sang the song). Awesome!
Ok, I digress, what was this episode actually about? Peter goes to visit Chris at work and Chris confronts him with an awkward situation (Chris’ testicle has ascended into his… I don’t know, whatever it ascends into… come on, guys, stop acting like it’s never happened to you, too. Err- what?). Chris opens his pants to show Peter (HIS FATHER) the situation and Peter accuses Chris of lewd conduct in the store. This prompts the store owner to offer Peter a gas card for a year’s worth of free gas (question: now that barrels of oil are way down why is gas still so expensive? I’m just saying…).
Peter gleefully accepts this offer and leads to my favorite scene in the episode. Lois goes outside and Peter is sitting in a Space Shuttle facing vertical. Lois basically says “every time I come out here you’re in a more ridiculous vehicle whose purchase you cannot explain”. This being an ode to two of my favorite Family Guy scenes of all time: Peter-Copter and Hinden-Peter.
Lois talks Peter into using his gas card a little more intelligently and they decide to take a road trip (Meg suggests they visit the Island of “LOST” but Stewie vetoes the idea stating he doesn’t want to suffer through Matthew Fox’s heavy breathing- which leads to a great cut scene for fellow “LOST” fans). Peter and Lois are loading up the car after putting Stewie in his car seat and they begin to argue about whether Peter can bring his cage of tropical birds (yes, I’m serious- didn’t you watch?). This gives Stewie the perfect escape out of the car. The story continues whereby the Griffins continue their trip and eventually realize they have left Stewie home a la Home Alone.
I think the funniest part of Stewie’s home alone shenanigans is when he drinks his first soda and starts running around the kitchen- then abruptly crashes and says “I’m sad”. There are some other funny scenes along the way, namely, Stewie locks Quagmire and Cleveland up in the basement with the DirectTV Help channel on repeat (Peter asked them to go check on Stewie), and Joe polishing his wheelchair screaming “this is my wheel chair. There are many like it but this one is mine. Etc” (a la Full Metal Jacket).
Like I said- they’re really throwing the movie references in heavy- which is fine by me! The last movie reference is at a train station where Peter- instead of buying a train ticket- buys some “helium filled shower curtain rings”. Lois, in a rage, lambastes Peter, and then they cut to the sad music and Peter’s sad retort which mimics wonderfully the scene in the hotel from the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles!
The Griffins eventually return to their home in Quahog and, of course, Stewie helps re-enact (to some degree) the reunion from Home Alone. All in all a strong episode with a lot of great movie references, many times I found myself laughing out loud. What did you think? Any movie references I missed that you liked? How do you rate this season so far.
NOVEMBER 4TH - GO VOTE!
Thanks for pointing out the typos Mr. Anonymous poster.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the Planes,Trains,and Automobiles reference was killing me. I couldn't figure it out. Renee
ReplyDelete