Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip (1999)

In the early 1990s, Cartoon Network was still trying to find its mojo. Known only as the channel that re-aired extensive film library of old cartoons from the 1940s until the early 1980s; the network began to create their own set of animation in the mid-1990s, by creating a show called 'What a Cartoon!' or better known as 'Cartoon Cartoons'. Spearheaded by Fred Seibert, the concept of the show was to showcase new cartoons shorts to the audience, and once the shorts got popular, the Network would create a spin-off show about it. The most famous early one of these was 'Dexter's Laboratory'; a show about a boy-genius Dexter (Voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) and inventor, who constantly battling his sister, Dee Dee (Voiced by Kat Cressida) in an attempt to keep her out of his secret laboratory, while engaging in a bitter rivalry with his neighbor and fellow-genius Mandark (Voiced by Eddie Deezen). Without spoiling the movie, too much, the film also focus the same concept as the show, but add time-travel to the mix, as Dexter wanted to see, how he save the world in the future, when robots came to the past to kill him. Created and director by animator Genndy Tartakovsky, and originally aired on December 10, 1999 as a special TV movie. The film is surprising well-written with clever, yet brilliant twists and turns. Yet, like any other 'time travel' movie, there also seem to be, some parts of the film that are very confusing like how Dexter cannot remember, how he save/doom the world. The film writes it off, the reason, because of his massive ego. Hints the title of this piece. Yet, the paradoxes are very alarming, when you come across, the fact that Mandark knew his fate, too. Time travel movies are always complicated. Yet, I like, each version of the future that Dexter goes to, as it relates to masculinity. First, there is the 'Orwellian' draconian future where everybody is control by Mandrake's propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and label as numbers, through Capitalism style politics when it comes to technology. It's clearly, the precarious manhood stage of Dexter's self, because, he isn't willing to share his technology with others, even if it's for the greater good, due to fear of it being misused. It wasn't, until, his masculinity evolve, post-apocalyptic, that you see that he willing to have some courage. Yet, society still somewhat loses. Lastly, in the utopian future, Dexter's patriarchy shows, how society have fallen from one dictator to another, with the open-technology politics. No matter, how great, life might seem, there is still somewhat of an authoritarian with the older Dexter at the top. Great art direction, around, with some cool action sequences. It's also pretty cool to see, how Dexter would age, over the years. It gave the movie, some of its best jokes with them, interacting with each other. My favorite is Grandpa Dexter, also voiced by Christine Cavanaugh. The voice acting was also great. I like the fact that many of the original cast from the first and second season return to do, this movie. The movie was also very funny, with most of the jokes, hitting the funny bone. I also love the call backs to episodes like Season 1, Episode 2 'Dexter Dodgeball' and Season 1, Episode 3 'Old Man Dexter' others. Yet, I kinda wish, the movie had a little more continuous with the TV's episodes than it did. After all, what did happen to Mandrake's thought reading device!? Anyways, originally intended to conclude the series, the film maintained successful ratings for the channel, despite mixed reviews from critics; it led to Cartoon Network reviving the show for two more seasons in 2001. However, it probably, wasn't the best idea, since Genndy Tartakovsky left to work on other projects. Since he was gone, it allow another studio and animator to take over. The results of this, not only made, all of the characters look significantly different, due to the change from traditional cel animation to digital-ink-and-paint, but the fact, that the series also went through a lot of Retconning as well, contradicting the previous incarnation of the series, more than the original did. That was a no-no. Surprising, the series concluded, a few years later in November 2003 in a quiet deadly death. I manage to watch this movie on VHS. However, as of this date of writing, this movie has not been put on DVD. I just glad, the VHS version, includes the episodes, Season 1, Episode 9 "The Justice Friends: Krunk's Date" and Season 1, Episode 2, "Dial M for Monkey: Rasslor', because I'm a huge fan of Wrestling and Marvel Comics. Overall: While, there's plenty of cartoon violence here, some sexual innuendo and some harsh language. Yet, it's nothing that children at the time, hasn't saw before. In the end, it's an entertaining movie worth checking out for both kids, now and kids, then.

"Spoiler free review"I think all the fans and I should know that this was intended to be the very last of the series as of what Genndy Tartakovsky wanted. I loved Dexter's Laboratory when I was young even though I always got mad at DeeDee whenever she destroyed something for Dexter, but luckily we don't get to see her much in the whole movie. But the first time I saw this movie when I was 7 I think, I thought the movie was too awesome and wanted to see it again and again. Watching it again I could still feel the awesomeness but at the same time I could see clearly how the movie got some flaws. The flaws isn't exactly annoying or horrible to watch, but because of it's time limit it will likely not explain everything.The animation itself is as the series very good and concentrated. Genndy and the crew did a very good job to make sure the movie still had the same feeling as the series. The story itself is quite different but a good story boarding to tell how the young Dexter decides to see the one who saved the future which of course he believe he did it. But suddenly comes across with the other Dexter's of himself in the future. The adult or wimpy Dexter, the old Dexter and of course the Action Dexter (Suddenly Dexter became rugged as his favorite TV-hero Action Hank). They were all different except still having their genius intelligence. The music is more epic and loyal to Dexter on his personal mission.As what I said about the flaws, the problem of the story might be of it's time limit. If only the movie were longer I think it would make the movie more interesting and deeper to the time traveling and the older Dexter's life. It also lacked some characters but I guess that Genndy were mostly concentrating on the Dexter and Mandark rivalry. Concentrating on the older Dexter's they might give you a different feeling to them like they are the supporting characters instead of they are the original Dexter. Some people were criticizing about the lack of humor, in my opinion I found the humor to be enough to entertain myself with the way Dexter's Lab is. The old Dexter was the funniest character in the whole movie.So all in all this less than 50 minutes movie was still entertaining and is definitely a more loyal and good ending to one of Cartoon Network's masterpieces. Despite it's flaws I still think the movie is worth watching how many times you want, but you definitely need to be a Dexter's Lab fan and you must have some philosophical interests especially when it comes to time traveling. Not perfect but a perfect ending and premise to the series."A little comment to CommonSenseMedia"(The movie itself is not sexist at all and just because of it's beginning it doesn't make the whole movie sexist and inappropriate to children. It's not trippy either. I think that you should not worry so much about what the movie gives. This movie is at least not to bad to show the children. And maybe the movie indeed is aimed for young boys but there are girls that can as well enjoy it too.)

Awww. I love those girlies. The girlies who gave Mandark a bath, Sarah (the blonde) and Rita (the brunette), while Mandark was yelling at that teenage Dexter and exposing his ass to the whole wide world (AKA the Viewers). Ohhhh, I love those sweeties. I love those girlies. But wait! that scene is highly erotic in my lifetime, and should have got Genndy Tartakovsky and his Hanna Barbara and Cartoon Network animators condemned by some, if not, many parents, for animating such an erotic moment for TV. But, I love those girlies who Mandark a bath, one blonde haired, the other, black haired. I love those beautiful and pretty sweeties. Kootchy, Kootchy, Kootchy, Kootchy, Kootchy...xxxxxxxxxxxxx (kisses)

I love the show, it was great. The movie on the other hand, stunk. I'm glad they decided to make the movie, but not this one. The show is funny - filled with little tidbits that appeal to older as well as younger viewers. The movie was dark, unfunny, and very simple. It seems as if they just decided they needed to write a movie and made one before they got a good idea for it. (5/10)