The Whitest Kids You Know was a comedy troupe that was active from 2007 – 2021. The troupe was led by Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) and Trevor Moore. As Trevor Moore died in 2021, MARS is the last project the troupe will release. This places the greatest emphasis on the quality of this animated interstellar comedy romp. So, how is MARS?
MARS is a raunchy, profane, no-holds-barred absurdist farce. The Whitest Kids You Know pulled a dastardly move and did not credit themselves with the voice acting. To that end, I have no idea who played any of the characters in this film. You get the sense MARS is meant to be viewed as a team effort; that this is the hard work and collaboration of the following troupe members: Zach Cregger, Trevor Moore, Sam Brown, Darren Trumeter, and Timmy Williams. Sarah Paxton was brought in to voice a very specific woman, Candace. Candace, as we will see, is the catalyst for the story of MARS.
Following the exploits of the first private enterprise mission to the red planet, MARS specifically focuses on Kyle Capshaw. He is a pediatric dentist who is engaged to his boss’ daughter, Candace. They are set to be married in 3 weeks, and Kyle is experiencing an existential crisis, realizing his entire life has been mapped out for him. Candace complicates Kyle’s life hard with ambush arguments concerning his feelings for her, and what he would do in numerous hypothetical nonsensical situations. Wishing to no longer be a passenger in his own timeline, Kyle submits an application for this trip to Mars. Kyle is joined initially by Todd – an elementary school teacher, Peggy Bortz – a deeply abused woman with a serious eating disorder, Wimmy – an Evangelical Christian and Missionary, and Elron – the billionaire who’s underwriting this expedition.
“Wishing to no longer be a passenger in his own timeline, Kyle submits an application for this trip to Mars.”
MARS is a rather funny, if grotesque, piece of adult animation. Between the concerning meth intake of several side characters, the lurid sex acts, including a fairly ludicrous sodomy bit, and the number of bodies that explode or even combust, MARS is next-level coarse in its depictions of human depravity. Kyle’s best friend, Cooter, has a profoundly homosexual side story that is both seedy and deranged, involving five twinks as his posse, which was worth many giggles, gentle reader.
MARS is a decidedly adult animation. The team led by director Sevan Najarian does a wonderful job rendering and compositing the graphic and unsettling imagery. These are highly expressive characters that follow the 8 points of animation very effectively. The color palette is bright and vaguely obscene. This lends the proper atmosphere to a sick and degenerate film, which I found to be hilarious. MARS is not a tasteful film, and I get the real sense that The Whitest Kids You Know leans in hard to human depravity as a source of comedy. The obscene nature of the acts presented in MARS is simply part of the fun. Viewers with a weak constitution may ‘nope’ out of this film once the crew lands on Mars. So, you’ve been forewarned, gentle reader.
If you’re in the market for deranged, depraved, and delightfully madcap comedy, seek out MARS. Its tastelessness is definitely a huge part of its charm. Also, for fans of The Whitest Kids You Know, this being their last project is required viewing. Ultimately, MARS serves as a testament to the comedic stylings of Trevor Moore. And, in that light, it is a fitting tribute to a man who left us far too soon.
"…deranged, depraved, and delightfully madcap..."
