He’s all shaken up… and ready for revenge. AgentElvis is a little strange. It’s an animated series that brings the iconic king of rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley (Matthew McConaughey), to life on a high-stakes spy adventure. Elvis is reimagined as a suave vigilante turned undercover spy who must save the world while keeping his rock star identity a secret. Easier said than done, right? Although the premise might scream “camp” to most, this is the rare animated series where it properly draws inspiration from the real world, spurring out lots of adult laughs, cool animations, and Elvis songs. . Honestly, what’s not to like?
AGENT ELVIS : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
Opening shot: An animated Elvis Presley stands with his guitar slung over his shoulder and his hand on his mic stand in the studio. This is NBC studios in Burbank, California in 1968. He discusses with his producer the use of the song “Trouble” during his 1968 Comeback Special, but is quickly steered towards Christmas songs, such as in real life.
The essential: Elvis enjoys fame as one of the biggest stars in the world. But he’s also a vigilante who spends his free time going after the bad guys and the bad guys. Typical rockstar stuff. He has pal Bobby Ray (Johnny Knoxville), pet chimp Scatter (Tom Kenny), wife Priscilla (Priscilla Presley), and mother figure Bertie (Niecy Nash) by his side. And with that kind of family, he can do anything, including beat the bad guys up.
After a few run-ins with people who apparently want nothing more than to see Elvis dead, he meets a mysterious woman named CeCe Ryder (Kaitlin Olson) – yes, like the song – an agent who belongs to a top-secret organization that the first episode doesn’t quite cover. She mentions that her job is to make sure Elvis doesn’t die, however, she will undoubtedly be important in the future.
Elvis and CeCe work together to track down the mysterious gang of murderers who want him dead for whatever reason: the Manson family. Why do they want to kill Elvis, precisely? What does Charles Manson (Fred Armisen) want with the star? Who knows? Who cares, really? Elvis can take it. He has a killer chimpanzee as a pet and is, like, the greatest rock and roll musician of all time. And now he kicks a ton of ass too.
What shows will this remind you of? There are strong Archer vibrations of AgentElvis, although Elvis is apparently much more competent than anything Sterling Archer would tackle. Stylistically and thematically, the shows share some similarities. And given Elvis’ “family” association, there are shades of animated series like harley quinn must see here, where a somewhat family character is rebooted with rude friends and adult material to great effect. Did you know that Elvis dropped so many F-bombs? Me neither!
Our opinion : AgentElvis had the makings of a throw-everywhere series when it was first announced. But if you give it a chance, you will leave with a lot of pleasure, especially if you were or become a fan of the singer. And with movies like Elvis in the public eye, interest in the superstar has only skyrocketed in recent days. It might sound like a silly parody, but it’s actually quite fun and makes Elvis look as cool as he probably actually was. Cooler, really.
There’s a little something for everyone, like high-speed car crashes, a Manson family beating, a monkey stomping on someone near death, and Elvis performing in front of the public on TV. while cuddling his wife Priscilla (Priscilla Presley). And it’s all done to the tune of Elvis standards, which will have you dancing in your seat.
Or AgentElvis What really shines, however, is its stylistic, comic book-centric approach to animation. While a cheap price might be expected given its initial trailer and marketing materials, it goes to great lengths to make the series feel like a comic book crossover. which comes to life. Thick lines, exaggerated physical shapes, and literal comics drive the story forward during action-packed moments. Not only does it look good, but it feels good. It’s smooth, aesthetic and perfect for the subject. Titmouse really knocked it out of the park with this one.
Farewell shot: After Elvis and CeCe part ways, he returns home to cuddle his wife Priscilla and their daughter, Lisa Marie. They watch Elvis’ return special together, and Elvis closes the series, but not before learning that the limo chase at the start of the episode was planned by an unknown entity that had been testing the singer.
Sleeping Star: Barely a sleeper star in real life, Niecy Nash is Bertie, who is something of a mother figure to Elvis. His iconic voice brings a spicy warmth to the character. You know who she is as soon as Bertie opens his mouth, and although she does her best to keep Elvis in check, she loves and cares for the star, mentioning at one point that she promised the mother of the star that she would have him help take care of him after he passed away.
The most pilot line: Elvis explains to a would-be abuser what his “deal” is, referring to his vigilante activities: “You see, a while ago I decided I wasn’t going to sit around while this country is being torn apart by all the chaos, dirty hippies, drugs, crime No, no, no, not on my watch.
Our call: SPREAD IT. You wouldn’t think a show that turns the King of Rock ‘n Roll into an animated spy would work. Surprisingly, it does – well. McConaughey’s sweet Southern drawl suits Presley perfectly, the animation is smooth and engaging, and the laughs come to you quickly. It’s a loud good time and deserves a good old-fashioned try, even by suspicious minds.
Brittany Vincent has covered video games and technology for over a decade for publications such as G4, Popular Science, Playboy, Variety, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, GameSpot, and more. When she’s not writing or gaming, she collects retro consoles and technology. Follow her on Twitter: @MolotovCupcake.