NEW YORK – Lax moral standards mar the imaginative but hard-edged television special “Entergalactic,” which is currently streaming on Netflix. Rapper Kid Cudi conceived the animated 90-minute program – originally projected as a series – as a companion piece to his album of the same name and created it in collaboration with Kenya Barris.
Additionally, Cudi (credited as Scott Mescudi) voices the show’s protagonist, New York graffiti artist and aspiring comic book illustrator and author Jabari. With professional success looming, Jabari needs to straighten out his personal life which, as the action begins, is overshadowed by his ex-girlfriend, Carmen (voice of Laura Harrier).
New possibilities open up for Jabari after a chance encounter with his alluring neighbor, gifted photographer Meadow (voice of Jessica Williams). But his past is not so easily dispensed with since Carmen is angling to reignite their romance.
Cudi’s music sets a mellow tone for the proceedings, which include psychedelic journeys into outer space inspired by a combination of love and marijuana. In fact, pot plays so prominent a role in Jabari and Meadow’s daily routine that both are depicted puffing on a joint while brushing their teeth in the morning – seemingly a somewhat counterproductive enterprise.
The indulgence extended to drug use in the narrative is also shown toward casual sexual encounters. Thus, Jabari and Carmen have a roll in the hay for old time’s sake while his ensemble of friends, led by his best pal Jimmy (voice of Timothée Chalamet), consider it an oddity that Jabari and Meadow don’t end up in bed together at the end of their first date.
The couple soon makes up for lost time, however.
Although visually engaging, the adult-oriented cartoon also includes a barrage of rough and crude language. This may be a faithful reflection of the streetwise environment in which it’s set, but such dialogue, taken together with the other seamy elements already highlighted, further constricts the small audience for which the production can be endorsed.
“Entergalactic” is obviously not appropriate fare for impressionable viewers. Even many grown-ups may find that the wayward behavior of its otherwise sympathetic characters outweighs the show’s considerable artistic merit. Only those mature TV fans with a high tolerance for graphic material should, accordingly, follow Jabari’s search for fulfillment.
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