What do you get when you combine Star Wars, the greatest film series of all time (you heard me Star Trek, Godfather, Indiana Jones, and Lord of the Rings), and some of the funniest, most creative cartoon writers of this generation? You get the 50 minutes of beautifully crafted hilarity known as Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars. This episode follows the popular Disney characters Phineas and Ferb and their friends as they go on an adventure in the Star Wars universe. The story is their own but it runs parallel to Star Wars Episode IV, “A New Hope.” The creators of Phineas and Ferb are extraordinarily creative in all of their episodes but Star Wars fans will take great pleasure in the action that takes place in tandem with a movie many of us have ingrained in our memories. It is a masterpiece.
The number of Star Wars Easter eggs to be found in this special are so numerous that the creators must have had a team of researchers to place every obscure New Hope reference possible into this short, one episode span. If you have a day to kill I challenge you to watch the episode and note every reference mentioned in passing throughout this episode. The song “We Love Tatooine” will keep you busy for at least an hour. It was a treat to be sure.
I could write any number of things about this episode but thought I would just point out my 5 favorite Star Wars jokes. I would encourage you to watch and leave your favorite moments in the comments below. Here we go…
In my opinion, this is one of the most unfortunate lines in the original Star Wars trilogy. Regardless of what you think of the line, we all remember these words and the Stormtrooper who uttered them. In the course of this special, we are given this line once again only the response of the commanding officer is one I have always hoped for, “No, this is a bath stopper.” You may be a fan of the lore around this trooper but I’m glad he has finally been given the ridicule he deserves. (Watch the show for a little addition to this joke.)
4. Porkins Parachute
You don’t have to have a major role in the Star Wars universe to become a Star Wars legend. The X-Wing Fighter pilot, Porkins, is a prime example. We all know who he is even though all he really did was get shot down in the battle of Yavin. YouTube is full of Porkins spoof videos and he is the pilot everyone loves to abuse. You have to stay through the credits but Porkins gets a hat-tip. After the celebration at Yavin there is a major Phineas and Ferb style dance party. As the song is coming to a close, in flies Porkins with a parachute shouting, “Look guys, I made it.” He proceeds to crash into a sign and ruin the party. A fantastic tribute to this minor character!
3. Always blame Jar Jar!
Jar Jar Binks is probably the most abused character in the Star Wars universe. Some would argue that he came close to ruining the prequels and others would argue that he did ruin them. Regardless, he has taken a lot of blame for any dislike people have for the prequels. Our special shows a scene in which two technicians are getting the Death Star plans out of R2-D2. However, R2 doesn’t have them (Phineas and Ferb have them) and they begin to panic. As they decide what they are going to do one of them blurts out, “We’ll blame Jar Jar!” The other responds, “Blame Jar Jar? He retired 20 years ago.” It just goes to show that if anything goes wrong in the Star Wars universe, Jar-Jar will take at least part of the blame.
I know my opinion is unpopular on this issue but I prefer Lucas’ change in which Greedo shoots first. Our opinions don’t matter to this joke but the ridiculous arguments we have about the scene sets up a great gag. Phineas and Ferb are in the cantina shortly after Ben, Luke, Han, and Chewbacca and are looking for a pilot to help them catch up to the Millennium Falcon. The bartender points across the room and the boys look over to see two men placing Greedo’s body on a stretcher to carry him away. One of the men says, “Someone said he shot first but I coulda sworn it was the other guy.” I just love it when comedy makes fun of the crazy arguments we insist on continuing. Who do you say shot first?
1. Opening crawl warning
The crawls at the beginning of Star Wars movies have become one of the mainstays of the franchise. We would be lost without them. The writers used this to poke a little fun at us. We live in a Star Wars world that is currently changing. With the recent Disney purchase and Marvel taking over the comic book series from Dark Horse Comics there is constant and venomous conversation about what will be considered “canon” and what will not. I enjoy Star Wars for the great storytelling, the strange worlds and great characters, the imaginative world building and escape to a galaxy far, far away. I don’t get caught up in the canon conversation because I just want another great Star Wars story. So as the crawl came across in this Phineas and Ferb special, the final line brilliantly says, “And none of this is canon, so just relax.” Well played writers, well played.
Take time to enjoy this special and watch it with kids if you can. You all will laugh until your stomach hurts and I would love to hear your favorite Star Wars moments.