Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law

Mikey 6 comments
  • DVD Review
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is an animated cartoon series with an interesting premise. The protagonist of the same name has long since retired as a super hero and now works as a criminal defence attorney and occasional civil litigator for the prestigious Sebben and Sebben law firm.

The opposing council and a Judge happen to have found a similar fate, as they were all once upon a time nemeses of Birdman. Reducto, Vulturo, Spyro, Freezoid and Mentok all fought Birdman during the original 1960's Hanna-Barbera television series 'Birdman and the Galaxy Trio'.

Harvey's day to day activities see him defending cartoon characters from around the same era, including Scooby Doo, The Jetsons, Ricochet Rabbit, Fred Flintstone and Speed Buggy to name a few.

Due to its comedic premise Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law' is technically not a sequel. The two dimensional characters from original series now have their own unique personalities which add to the comedic value. Reducto for example, is now known as Myron Reducto and happens to also be one of Birdman's best friends. He is paranoid, obsessive compulsive, and has an unhealthy obsession with everything small.

Harvey is voiced by the versatile Gary Cole, (American Gothic, The Brady Bunch Movie, Talladega Nights) and does an uncanny Birdman impression. Mentok, who features as the Judge in most of the episodes is voiced by actor/comedian Stephen Colbert, (The Colbert Report).

One of the most interesting characters is without a doubt X the Eliminator', voiced by Peter McNicol (Ally Mcbeal, Bean the Movie, Numb3rs). In a flash back sequence taken directly from the original cartoon series, X is contracted by F.E.A.R. to retrieve the Crest of Birdman. He was unsuccessful. Fast forward 26 years and X is still in the evil villain business. Now overweight and living at home with his mother, X is still obsessed with getting Birdman's crest, even though he has no idea what has become of his enemy. That is, until he saw a television commercial with Birdman offering his litigation services.

X's is featured in several episodes, with more of his personality revealed. It turns out he is needy and clingy yet torn between being a part of Birdman's life and wanting to kill him.

The stories are short and there is no underlying plot structure to meld all the episodes together. This also means continuity is often broken or ignored altogether, but the fast dynamic pace makes up for any short comings.

All the characters are faithfully reproduced both artistically and vocally, so much that you would be forgiven for thinking they used the original voice actors.

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is at its core a very interesting series which should appeal to anyone with an unusual sense of humour. If one thing is certain, watching the cartoon characters we grew up with in these unusual predicaments makes for lots of laughter.

Top marks from this author.

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The Klone

Friday 11th May 2007 | 09:24 PM

I admit wasnt a fan of the 1st season largely in part to it didn't seem to make sense. But I like the last season so far and have gone back and watched the first season again and like it now.

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P. Potamus

Friday 11th May 2007 | 09:27 PM

Did you get that thing I sent you?

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Jasmin

Monday 14th May 2007 | 09:50 PM

Youtube is a good place to start for anyone who hasn't seen Harvey Birdman. http://youtube.com/results?search_query=harvey%20birdman&search=Search">Go here.

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Harvey

Wednesday 4th July 2007 | 12:10 AM

The best cartoon ever. I grew up watching all those characters on Saturday mornings and seeing them in this context is genius.

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Phil Ken Sebben

Tuesday 25th September 2007 | 08:52 PM

Ha Ha! Birdman! Get here in...in here get...Get in here.

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Friendo

Tuesday 6th May 2008 | 09:35 AM

N.F.W......if I only had the time....Micheal, you are beyond.....

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