Posted 25 August 2019
Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling / Netflix / 2019
Yes, FINALLY!
After months of waiting and waiting, on August 9, 2019, Rocko’s Modern Life fans were finally gifted with a new Netflix movie. This is the first Rocko production since its ending in the mid-’90s. With little information about the special revealed in the preview, this was worth the wait to see what this story about constant change entailed.
An Old, Unseen Episode or a Legit New Episode?
This special was like it only came out a year or two after the last ep of the original series. The art style was definitely true to the old show. The caliber is that of a season 4 episode (a good season). Heck, it’s like an old ep only if HD was standard in ‘96 or ‘97. The voice actors were absolutely on point with their character voices. This was a special that transports us back to the ‘90s with a story exceptionally adapted to the happenings of our modern society.
Those Classic Orange Tapes
Not to give out spoilers but one ‘90s Nick reference in the movie that stood out to me was an orange Fatheads VHS tape. Nickelodeon used to produce their VHS releases in the ‘90s with orange tapes. I think that’s really cool and unique that they did that. They stopped the practice with their later VHS releases.
Looking Back…
Similar to Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie (read review here), there were numerous call-backs to past episodes. If you’ve seen and remember these original eps, these references will make sense. It definitely helped me to watch the old Rocko eps earlier this year to catch and better understand these allusions.
Will Never Get Stale
With the theme of change being all around us, I recommend this movie for all Rocko fans (present and future (those just joining the fandom)). With the show name of “Rocko’s Modern Life,” this franchise can definitely poke fun of many cultures through time whether the “modern life” is in the ‘90s with VCRs or the ‘00s and ‘10s with YouTube and Smartphones. It all stays fresh! Because of the phenomenal effort of successfully integrating a well-loved ‘90s Nicktoon into our tech-filled decade, 5 stars go to Rocko, Heffer, and Filburt who learn change is the key to fresh ideas, innovations, and tomorrows. This special is only available on Netflix. Watch this next time you log on.