“Boys Go to Jupiter,” directed by Julian Glander, is a new animated coming-of-age feature film, which stars Jack Corbett and Miya Folick.
The synopsis is: It’s the day after Christmas in suburban Florida and Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett) and his friends pass the seemingly endless days by slacking, shoplifting, and beatboxing.
In between lounging on the beach and sneaking into pools, Billy spends his time hustling on the food-on-demand app Grubster, desperate to make $5,000 before New Year’s Eve.
As he darts around the city delivering to a series of oddball characters, a routine stop at the mysterious Dolphin Groves Juice Company leads to a run-in with his former classmate—and crush—Rozebud (Miya Folick) and a surprise backpack stowaway in Donut, a bizarre creature from another world.
Dr. Dolphin (Janeane Garofalo), the powerful orange juice CEO, will do anything to get Donut back, and Billy is forced to make hard choices about love, friendship, and how far he’ll go for financial security in a world ruled by capitalism in this absurdist and musical take on a coming-of-age comedy.
Alongside Corbett and Folick, the talented voice-over cast of “Boys Go to Jupiter” features Janeane Garofalo (Reality Bites), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Tavi Gevinson (Gossip Girl), Grace Kuhlenschmidt (The Daily Show), Joe Pera (Joe Pera Talks With You), Julio Torres (Problemista), Sarah Sherman (Saturday Night Live), Tony winner Cole Escola (Oh, Mary!), Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby), River L. Ramirez (Los Espookys), Max Wittert (High Maintenance), J.R. Phillips (Summer Camp Island), Chris Fleming (Hell), and comedy writer Demi Adejuyigbe.
The Verdict
Overall, “Boys Go to Jupiter” is a pleasant surprise… it is lighthearted, bizarre, surreal, weird (in the best possible way), heartwarming, clever, and thoroughly entertaining, all in one.
The writing is clever, warm, and relatable, and the voice-over performances are just as memorable. It is the feel-good escapism and levity we all need these days.
There is a rawness and authenticity to it like no other, and it deserves to be nominated for the Academy Award for “Best Animated Feature” at next year’s ceremony.
There is something mystical and fun in it for everyone, and “Boys Go to Jupiter” garners 4.5 out of 5 stars.
