It's hard to believe sometimes how the simplest of concepts can turn into a cultural phenomenon. Take the pet rock. Who in their right mind would have thought that people would shell out good money to buy a box that contained… a rock. Or that even more people would spend even more money to buy Pet Rock Houses, Pet Rock Training Guides, etc… Or here's another perfect example (and one that is closer in concept to the Pet Rock than it might seem) is Paris Hilton. Who would have ever believed people would shell out good money to see her do anything. And yet she has turned her talent-less, personality-free, goat-faced self into an institution. So when Mike Judge sat down to create a short cartoon about two moronic head-banging potheads, how could he have known that just a short time later, his creations would be the stars of their own series on MTV, eventually be featured in their own motion picture, and find themselves emblazoned on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs to underwear. Yet that is exactly what happened.

The aforementioned MTV created a series called "Liquid Television" which was meant to showcase the work of new animators. Judge was able to get his an animated short of "Beavis & Butthead" onto the show… and stars were born.

I actually used to watch MTV during the days that they showed videos more than they did original programming and so I saw a good many of the episodes that used to air. Watching these two characters, with their signature drugged out expressions and incessant (and occasionally annoying) laughter, I was reminded of a lot of friends I had in High School. More often than not, the episodes were mildly funny, but every now and again there were moments of genius. As the popularity of the show grew, I was often surprised to find people on my life that were fans that I'd never have guessed would like it. And, oddly enough, years later I would learn that my Father-in-Law (a straight as an arrow ex-Marine) was a huge fan if the duo, especially enjoying Beavis' creation of 'Corn-holio'. (Don’t ask me to describe him, you'd have to see it for yourself.)

What was most amazing about the series however was that Judge was able to use it as a launching pad to bigger and better things, such as the creation of the animated series "King of the Hill", which has just been renewed for an incredible 11th season. He has also parlayed his success into a number of movie appearances which included a major role in the popular "Spy Kids" series.

Paramount has already released 3 sets of episodes of "Beavis & Butthead" on DVD in a 'Mike Judge Collection' format, and is following them up this month with the release of a special edition DVD of "Beavis & Butthead Do America." Yes, these characters actually had an honest to gosh full length theatrical release in which the duo set out across the country in search of their pilfered furniture. There's really no way to describe the insane predicaments B&B get into, going as far as to go up against the CIA. An event that happens in my life all the time.

Fans of the series will enjoy the extra features, which are plenty. Judge offers a full length feature commentary where he is joined by animation director Yvette Kaplan. Judge is a pretty laid back guy, and if you listen closely you'll catch quite a few sly comments that are funnier than they seem. There's also a featurettes on the making of the film and the music, along with a montage of all of the characters who get hit in the movie.

"Beavis & Butthead" didn't appeal to everyone, so there's a good chance that this DVD release might not either. But if you already know you’re a fan, this DVD is more than worth the money.

Directed by: Mike Judge
Extras: Commentary by Director Mike Judge and Animation Director Yvette Kaplan, The Big Picture - A Retrospective Making of Segment, We're Gonna Score - Composer John Frizzell and director Mike Judge Discuss the Music in the Film, The Smackdown - A Montage of All the Characters in the Movie Getting Slapped or Fighting, TV Spots, Celebrity Shorts, Teaser Trailers
Specifications: Widescreen
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 9/12/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (For Continuous Crude Sex-Related Humor and Language, and For a Drug Related Scene)
Website

We'll give Beavis & Butthead Do America a B.