Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie

Name: Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Animation, Family
Released: June 2, 2017
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Brian Posehn, David Soren, DeeDee Rescher, Ed Helms, Jordan Peele

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 165 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 165 Ratings

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Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie: Ed Helms On The Story

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: June 2, 2017 | PG

Starring: Brian Posehn, David Soren, DeeDee Rescher, Ed Helms, Jordan Peele, Kevin Hart, Kristen Schaal, Mel Rodriguez, Nick Kroll, Thomas Middleditch

Summary: Two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.

Director: David Soren

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Comedy, Animation, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 89 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Jun 2, 2017

The 3-D animation is designed and executed in an unrealistic manner, paying loving attention to light and shadow but tossing the laws of physics out of the nearest classroom window. Read full review

Katie Walsh

Jun 1, 2017

The story of Captain Underpants is funny, fresh and frantic, playing with format and genre, adding meta, self-reflective winks. The film is propelled by its hyperactive energy and quirky style...and the combustible chemistry between the two leads. Read full review

Jamie Neish

Aug 3, 2017

It won't be for everyone by any means, but Captain Underpants: The First Movie would be easy to overlook as another kids-only waste of money. But that's not the case. The film subverts this every step of the way and constantly turns in new, unexpected directions in order to surprise and entertain its audience from the start to the end. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jun 1, 2017

An endlessly inventive and anarchic Dreamworks romp based on the Dav Pilkey children’s books, it thrives on prankster pals, over-matched adults and a hand-drawn comic book hero’s ethos. Read full review

Robert Yaniz Jr.

Jun 1, 2017

Its shamelessly sophomoric sense of humor only sporadically leans into inspired territory, but while it may not arrive as an instant classic, the ambitiously titled Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie easily stands among the best animated films of the year so far. Read full review

Jacob Oller

Jun 8, 2017

Captain Underpants’ plethora of animation styles (including a wonderful sock puppet sequence) separates the film into imaginative sublayers, keeping it from feeling like the one-joke wonder that it often edges towards. Read full review

Peter Hartlaub

Jun 1, 2017

Captain Underpants is a very popular book series that doesn’t seamlessly translate to the big screen, and the filmmakers can’t solve this problem. The result is a cinematic wedgie: a little too dark, a little too nihilistic, a little too empty. Read full review

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User Reviews

giantpegasus123

Jun 23, 2017

im 27 me and my 23yr old cousin loved this movie. I never read the books. Great movie animation and voice work. It's not deep, but it will make you laugh and keep your interest from beginning to end regardless of age.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

minamiyoko

Jun 5, 2017

Underlying messages: learn to laugh at yourself and be kind. The movie makes you nostalgic for childhood. I think the people who write negative reviews have become jaded adults and this type of energy is definitely picked up by the children they have brought to the theater. The theater IUnderlying messages: learn to laugh at yourself and be kind. The movie makes you nostalgic for childhood. I think the people who write negative reviews have become jaded adults and this type of energy is definitely picked up by the children they have brought to the theater. The theater I went to was howling with laughter and excited parents. Makes a huge difference. It is a charming tribute to a child's imagination and creativity.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BrunoVn00

Nov 10, 2019

Well this was unexpected. Captain Underpants is a movie I didn't expect to like as much as I like it. At first I thought it would be another dumb kids movie with toilet humor every five seconds but it actually turned out to be something different, for the most part. There were things IWell this was unexpected. Captain Underpants is a movie I didn't expect to like as much as I like it. At first I thought it would be another dumb kids movie with toilet humor every five seconds but it actually turned out to be something different, for the most part. There were things I didn't expect to like as much, like the animation and the visuals. This movie is colorful, energetic, full of style and looks nothing like other Dreamworks movies. It is pretty obvious that they went for a look that is accurate to the source material and I like it. I wonder how Shrek, How To Train Your Dragon or The Boss Baby would've look like if they went the same direction with those. The humor was surprisingly really good. This movie is very "meta" at some points and has some really good self-aware humor I did not see coming. Sure it has some toilet humor here and there. For example, there is a scene where they start making fart noises with numerous whoopee cushions and it is so annoying, but thank god that it doesn't last too long, and the movie actually makes fun of the fact that toilet humor is for the lowest common denominator (which is something I totally agree).The voice acting was also pretty good. Ed Helms as Principal Krupp/Captain Underpants was really good, so good that he even got a voice acting Annie nomination. I'm not a fan of Kevin Hart and his attempt to make the voice of a kid was a bit annoying at first but then I started to get used to his voice and it turned into an OK performance. Other than that, the acting for the most part was really good. The villain was pathetic. His motivation was so dumb and his actions and dialogue are even dumber, but okay, I get it, that is the point. He's supposed to be pathetic. He reminded me of the Joker from The LEGO Batman Movie, which was also a pathetic villain which you shouldn't take seriously. Really nothing in this movie wants to be taken seriously. It's a really entertaining, cleverly written at times and fun movie and not much else. It's not a great movie. Mainly because the source material isn't "masterpiece material", because even if it is self-aware of its dumb toilet humor, it still has toilet humor, and I'm not a big fan of that. Regardless you should give it a watch. It is definetely worth your time. I dare to say that this is one of the best animated movies of 2017, but to be honest, it doesn't have to much competition. 2017 s*cked in animated films.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

moviemitch96

Jun 3, 2017

I've never been one for immature and potty humor (which is part of why I hate the 'Shrek' and 'Despicable Me' movies with a passion for example). However, surprising as it may seem, I was actually really looking forward to checking this out, having grown up with and loved reading the booksI've never been one for immature and potty humor (which is part of why I hate the 'Shrek' and 'Despicable Me' movies with a passion for example). However, surprising as it may seem, I was actually really looking forward to checking this out, having grown up with and loved reading the books this is based on as a child. As for the inevitable potty humor I knew I would be walking straight into with this film, what can I say? It wasn't a problem for me at all with this film, in part because I was pretty much asking for it this time around, but also because that's what helped it stay true and close to the same style of humor from its equally crude source material. And besides, with a title like 'Captain Underpants', what else was I supposed to expect? In addition, the voice cast keeps things lively and fun, with members such as the always energetic and reliable Kevin Hart, and of course, Ed Helms in a perfect fit (pun intended) as the titular character. Overall, I will admit that the film was pretty hit or miss with a lot of the humor and jokes for me, but none of that ruined the fact that it was still a fun, colorful, and even quite nostalgic time for a fan of the books such as myself.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Futuredirector

Aug 24, 2017

While Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie may feel unsatisfying for the ones who hadn't read Dav Pilkey's bestseller, it is still having a dazzling animation, cool storytelling, and a surprisingly familiar message.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

wuduuuuup123

Jan 18, 2018

it is just a fun ride tghrough the world tghroug kids´ eyes it was funny had good humor a solid movie not a must watch but stil a good kids movie

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

tropicAces

Jun 4, 2017

I was a fan of the books when I was younger, so even though I'm in my mid-20s now I was somewhat looking forward to this. But it ended up being a boring, lazily animated romp (it only cost $38 million compared to the average animated cost of around $125 million), and even the big name voiceI was a fan of the books when I was younger, so even though I'm in my mid-20s now I was somewhat looking forward to this. But it ended up being a boring, lazily animated romp (it only cost $38 million compared to the average animated cost of around $125 million), and even the big name voice cast seems to be phoning it in. Kids in my audience didn't even seem to loving it that much, which makes sense seeing as this movie is 15 years overdue...… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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