Release: February 21, 2017
Film: Cool World
Tagline: Having sex with cartoons leads to all sorts of problems, a bad movie being one of them, but is there more to this movie than it seems?
This review contains examples of:
- Aborted Arc: The Critic takes note of a loose end involving Jack Deebs, the cartoonist behind the in-movie Cool World comics, having been imprisoned for apparently killing a man who slept with his wife.
- Bait-and-Switch: A variation: The Critic claims he was to review American Pop in tribute to its recently-deceased director Ralph Bakshi, but then Bakshi (Rob) shows up, very much alive, and orders him to review Cool World instead.
- Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs: The Critic's description of Bakshi:"Some say he's a genius, others say he's mad, I say he's a mad genius."
- Buffy Speak: The Critic's summation of the movie as he finishes reviewing it:"And that was... a thing. A very, very bad thing."
- Call-Back:
- The Critic originally thinks that Bakshi has died and says he will review American Pop as tribute. Last year he did exactly the same thing with Labyrinth, starring David Bowie, who actually died a month prior to that review.
- The motorcycle accident that killed Ralph's mother is framed as a Canadian PSA advising against riding motorcycles, in the style of such Mood Whiplash-fueled PSAs that featured in the Critic's past four post-reboot commercials episodes to date.Announcer: Don't ride motorcycles. This PSA brought to you by Canadian Broadcasting.
Critic: I knew it! They're so sneaky!
- Dirty Old Man: Rob!Bakshi... and boobies.
- Executive Meddling: Discussed when Rob!Bakshi complains about how his original concepts had to be edited prior to production. Then he, Malcolm!Lee and Tamara!Taymor discuss more bizarre concepts, making the Critic think that it isn't always a bad thing. In the end, though, the Critic ultimately concedes that Cool World could've been much better but for this very trope.
- In Memoriam: Subverted when Critic thinks Bakshi passed away, only to find out a little bit later that he's still alive.
- Mad Artist: Rob!Bakshi claims that there is a mental institution for the artistically insane, and he, Julie Taymor (Tamara) and Spike Lee (Malcolm) have escaped from it recently. M. Night Shyamalan (Malcolm/Rob) and Woody Allen (Jim Jarosz) are also imprisoned in this institution (Shyamalan tried to escape but was caught).
- Officer O'Hara: The cop (played by Jim Jarosz) who comes by the Critic's place at the end to arrest Bakshi, Taymor and Lee and take them back to the mental institution has a stereotypical Irish accent.
- Older Than They Look: The Critic thinks 47 years have been kind to Frank since the motorcycle accident that killed his mother, seeing that he has aged little. He then segues into an Actor Allusion, given that his actor Brad Pitt also looked fairly youthful for someone in his early fifties.
- Random Events Plot: Since the movie can't decide on having a cohesive story, NC calls it a movie where things just happen.
- Ripped from the Headlines: The beginning of the review has the Critic think that Bakshi has died and will review American Pop as tribute. Besides being a Call-Back, it also alludes to the string of celebrity deaths that occurred during the last quarter of 2016.
- Rule 34: When Frank warns about having sex with Holli, the Critic brings this trope up, and illustrates his point by showing a drawing, from DeviantArt, of Jake making out with Timon."Getting involved with [Holli] is not the craziest thing, compared to others."
- Shout-Out:
- The drunken couple driving the car that crashed onto Frank's motorcycle (which killed his mother) is replaced with Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo driving under the influence of psychedelics.
- Dr. Whiskers accidentally summoning Frank into the comic world is compared to Dr. Wily creating "Brad Pitt-man".
- So Okay, It's Average: The Critic's final opinion on the film. As much of a Mind Screw as it turned out to be, he admits that some of the artwork is gorgeous and the original plot actually made more sense than the final product.
- Subverted Catchphrase: As Rob!Bakshi flies away using Tamara!Taymor and Malcolm!Lee as "wings"."I'm the Nostalgia Critic, and never lose track of the right kind of madness."
- Take That!:
- Holli's sensual dancing at her introduction has the Critic impersonate a hypnotized Jack quipping that he has created anime (alluding to its reputation for Fanservice).
- Tamara!Taymor revelas that Shyamal-Amon nearly escaped from the same loony bin she, Rob!Bakshi and Malcolm!Lee were in. He complains that he gets no respect even after two successful movies as of late. Fellow inmate Woody Allen (Jim) claims that he'd need to win another Oscar before he can finally go free.note
- The concept of a taboo against sex between doodles and real humans is deemed not as weird as some of the more unsavory works on DeviantArt. See also Rule 34 above.
- Frank constantly asking Holli to stay away from human men is compared with Claudette and Lisa's multiple discussions over the latter's failing relationship with Johnny.
- When Holli turns into a 'Noid, the Critic says, in imitation of her, "I suddenly want to make terrible career choices, like being in Fifty Shades Darker."
- This Is Gonna Suck: The Critic asks the audience to pray for him as he looks deeper into Cool World.
- Verbal Tic: Rob!Bakshi saying, "S-s-s-studio!" while complaining about how his original plans for Cool World were bastardized by Paramount.
- Wacky Sound Effect: The Goofy Holler is played over Frank's motorcycle flying after he and his mother crash into a car.
