Boys Go to Jupiter, Julian Glander’s weird yet wonderful debut feature, had its Scottish premiere on 4 March.
If you’ve ever wondered what suburban Florida would look like in an alternate universe where delivery boys befriend doughnut-shaped aliens and orange juice moguls grow mutant fruits from moon rocks, then Boys Go to Jupiter has you covered.
This coming-of-age animation follows Billy 5000 (voiced by Jack Corbett), a high school dropout who, desperate to make $5,000, finds himself hustling for local food delivery service, Grubster. Despite the disapproval of his eccentric group of friends, Billy is fixated on his dream of earning enough to move out of his sister’s garage. As he rides about on his hoverboard, we are invited to follow him on his many weird and wonderful encounters, such as those with a spaghetti-obsessed motel client, the creator of the world’s largest hotdog, and the owner of a dinosaur-themed mini-golf course.
Immediately, Glander’s style is immersive. Inspired by series like Peanuts and Frog and Toad from his childhood, he takes mainstream illustrating and flips it on its head. His blend of psychedelic, neon blobs and plasticky 3D renderings create a world that is so vibrant and playful, something that is only heightened by a synth-heavy, lo-fi soundtrack that keeps the film ticking along.
Despite being well acquainted with the world of animation, this is Glander’s first feature-length project. The film developed from what was originally a much shorter piece, and at times, it shows. This kind of fleshing out can often lead to a narrative that lacks substance, and while Boys Go to Jupiter does have a lot to talk about, it sometimes feels like it has much less to actually say. Anti-capitalist rants from angsty teen Rozebud (voiced by Miya Folick) are paired with heartfelt ballads all about eggs and meal combos: interludes that are welcomed on their own but begin to contribute to what feels like a mesh of ideas with little common thread.
Boys Go to Jupiter is quirky and fun, even if it starts to overstay its welcome. Glander’s debut shines in the moments where it allows you to bask in all of its surreal glory and is a reminder that the world of animation need not just appeal to children. For those this film resonates with, it’s sure to go down a treat.
Editor-in-Chief.
Fourth year English and Creative Writing and Politics and International Relations student.
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