Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teamwork at core of lowbrow but entertaining sci-fi comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lazer Team
What's the Story?
In LAZER TEAM, friendly aliens warned us years ago that evil aliens were on their way to attack our planet, so the good aliens send a battle suit, based on the myth of Perseus, to help us defend ourselves. A champion (Alan Ritchson) is trained to wear the suit when it arrives, but everything goes awry when a band of misfits -- ineffectual sheriff Hagan (Burnie Burns), intellectually challenged Woody (Gavin Free), injured former football star Herman (Colton Dunn), and current football player Zach (Michael Jones), who happens to be dating Hagan's daughter (Allie DeBerry) -- accidentally shoots down the delivering spaceship and unknowingly tries on the super-powered helmet, gauntlets, and boots. Can these doofuses work together to save Earth?
Is It Any Good?
This sci-fi comedy comes from the guys behind the popular Rooster Teeth YouTube channel, and while it's far from brilliant, it shows an infectious enthusiasm for cheesy sci-fi films. Lazer Team is smart about its not-so-smart characters (the title is deliberately misspelled); it paints them as sympathetic and imperfect, and it's easy to root for them, especially since their basic predicament requires teamwork to survive.
The filmmaking is clean, and while the visual effects are specifically designed to capture a more innocent era, they're perfectly accomplished and don't detract from the movie. Moreover, while the movie is lowbrow, it could have gone for shocking, vulgar humor and heavy language; instead, it roots its comedy in situation and character. Though it might not be gut-bustingly hysterical (or even particularly memorable), Lazer Team is still momentarily enjoyable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Lazer Team's violence. Does it make a difference that the shooting comes from lasers rather than bullet guns? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How much sexual material is shown? How is it different when that type of content is used for laughs rather than for character development?
How does teamwork matter to the story? What do the characters learn from working together?
Would you consider any of the characters role models? Why or why not?
Herman is shown drinking too much beer. Is his problem funny? Is it serious? What are the real-life consequences?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 29, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : August 2, 2016
- Cast : Burnie Burns , Colton Dunn , Gavin Free
- Director : Matt Hullum
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Amplify , YouTubeRed
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual material including references, language, action violence, teen partying and smoking
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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