AVClub: Nowadays, everybody wants to expand their empire. The Austin-based production company Rooster Teeth has achieved unprecedented success in the world of machinima, or films created using video-game environments. Its popular Red Vs. Blue shorts, launched in 2003 and still going strong, now constitute the longest-running web series of all time. But why stop there? Especially since having a loyal fan base makes diversification relatively easy. When Rooster Teeth announced plans to make its first theatrical feature, Lazer Team, and turned to Indiegogo to raise the cash, diehards immediately coughed up $2.4 million. Whether a broader audience will turn up for this goofy sci-fi comedy, starring a no-name (for the general public) ensemble that’s primarily done voice work in the past, remains an open question. But it does at least look like a real movie, albeit one with a script that’s been recycled from dozens of previous low-rent pictures about a group of scrappy underdogs who band together to save the world.
Doug writes:
"Fist off, I am going to admit I am a massive Rooster Teeth fan. I have followed them since 2007, watched every series they’ve produced, spent countless dollars on their merchandise, and, naturally, donated money towards their jump in media, Lazer Team. As a fan of the company, I was most definitely not disappointed."
Variety
The first feature by writer-director Matt Hullum’s production company Rooster Teeth, of the highly popular animated Web series “Red vs. Blue,” “Lazer Team” is a genial sci-fi action comedy that offers plenty of fun for fanboy types. The Texas-shot, Indiegogo-funded project tallied more than $1 million in Tugg presales before opening on 300 or so U.S. screens Friday. Whether this amusing if not wildly inspired spoof can build the word of mouth to cross over to wider theatrical audiences sans conventional star power or advertising muscle is doubtful. But it should do well in home formats, while announcing that Austin-based Rooster Teeth can create slick, ambitiously scaled entertainment on penny-ante means.
WOW247: Lazer Team is taking the global box office by storm – but it wasn’t made by Hollywood. It was made by a team of YouTubers.
