Western Animation / Regular Show: The Movie

You wanna help save the universe?

The universe is on the verge of being destroyed.
Years, whole decades, gone in an instant.
Until nothing is left.

Regular Show: The Movie is a TV film based on the animated Cartoon Network series Regular Show, released in November 2015. It's a Big Damn Movie based around the park workers in a Race Against the Clock after Mordecai and Rigby accidentally create a "timenado". What's on the line? The whole universe, as well as Earth's history...and potentially Mordecai and Rigby's friendship.

Ideas for a Regular Show film were reportedly first conceived in 2013, with the film beginning production the following year. It was officially announced during Cartoon Network's 2015-16 upfront slate, alongside a tweet from series creator J.G. Quintel. In June 2015, Quintel sent out another tweet stating that the film was finished.

You can watch the trailer here. On September 1st, 2015, the entire movie was released digitally on iTunes. A home video release followed on October 13, 2015, before having its television premiere on November 25, 2015.

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This movie provides examples of:

• And I Must Scream: Ross's time collar keeps bringing him back to life after his head is cut off, and the only thing he can repeat is "Noooo!", and "This hurts a lot more than I thought it would."
• And This Is for...: Future Benson does this for Future Skips, Pops, Muscle Man and High Five Ghost before dying.
• Armor-Piercing Question: After Rigby reads the rejection letter, Mordecai bitterly asks him:
  Mordecai: You've been lying to me all this time?
• Bad Future: Due to a lab explosion, a Timenado was created that is sucking in all of the Earth's timeline. Ross managed to take it over and fortified it intend on ruling all of existence with Mordecai, angered at Rigby forging his college letter, by his side. The Galactic Park Rangers, which include the park crew with Rigby as one of their lieutenants, have been trying to stop the two to no avail.
• Big Bad: Randall Ross is the main villain of the film, orchestrating his scheme to destroy all time just to get back at Rigby for ruining the national championship for his team.
• Big Damn Movie: As if saving the whole universe didn't seem big enough to you.
• Big "NO!": Future Rigby does one after Future Pops gets shot down by a laser.
• Big Red Button: One that's labeled "TIME WARP".
• Black Comedy: Rigby high-fiving his own future self's dead body before setting off on their mission.
• Book Dumb: Played almost entirely for drama. The entire plot hinges on the fact that Rigby was too dumb to get into a college that prides itself on how easy it is to get into, who then send a rejection letter that spells out for him how big a moron he has to be for that to happen.
• Book Ends: The film begins and ends with Mordecai and Rigby being late for work.
• Bowdlerise: Rigby decapitating Ross was cut in the UK version, among other edits.
• Bungled Suicide: Rigby tries to fly himself into the sun with the ship, only to lose control and lands on the space gas station.
• Call-Back:
  • The following exchange refers all the way back to "Meat Your Maker" in season one, which had Rigby repeatedly saying that he could fix stuff.
    Future Benson: If we get out of here, could you fix it?
    (Future Rigby nods)
    Future Benson: Rigby...fix..this. That's an order.
  • Father Time; who first appeared in "It's Time" returns as the space gas station attendant.
  • Past Muscle Man and High Five Ghost try to dump the ship in the Crash Pit.
  • Mordecai telling his past self he "wouldn't wanna ruin the surprise" apparently comes naturally to him, if this and "Mordecai And The Rigbys" serve as anything to go by.
  • After Rigby beats Mordecai at rock-paper-scissors, the latter expressing his frustration at not playing Punchies instead harkens back to the pilot (and, by extension, "First Day").
  • Past Mordecai and Rigby are wearing a "Brain Explosion" t-shirt and "Fist Pump" trucker hat respectively, both bands being mentioned in their respective episodes, "Caffeinated Concert Tickets" and "This Is My Jam".
• The Cameo: Eileen is only seen at the start of the movie, informing Mordecai and Rigby that they're about to be late for work. Father Time makes a brief return this time helping Rigby out. Gene is shown leading the Intergalactic Park Rangers in the final charge against the Timenado. Techmo likewise helps in the final battle (even lending Rigby his laser sword) as do The Guardians of Eternal Youth. And finally Frank is seen surveying the science lab explosion from his helicopter while doing a news report, with his daughter, Margaret, peeking over his shoulder to marvel at the sight.
• The Can Kicked Him: Muscle Man tries to use the bathroom on Future Rigby's ship, but the suction is so great it sucks all his clothes clean off.
• Card-Carrying Villain: Future Mordecai describes himself as having "an evil job, an evil six-figure salary, and an evil condo in Maui, right on the beach".
• Character Development: Because it canonically takes place around Season 7, the movie mainly centers around Rigby, and how his selfish actions have greater ramifications that affect not only the universe, but his longtime friendship with Mordecai. More importantly, the climax where he finally owns up and takes responsibility for his actions by apologizing to the two major people he's ever wronged affects him going forward into the season's High School arc.
• Decoy Protagonist: Although Mordecai is usually the main character in the TV show, Rigby takes the main spot here.
• Disproportionate Retribution: Ross is trying to destroy the whole time stream simply as a way to get back at Rigby for ruining his state volleyball game. Ironically, Rigby apologizing is what gets him to call it off in the past.
• Early-Bird Cameo: The Space Tree and the Spark Initiative makes an appearance, before becoming a central setting in the show's final season.
• Easily Forgiven: Past Rigby apologizes to Past Ross, who immediately accepts the apology, gives up his evil plans, and says it's all he really wanted.
• Everyone Has Standards: College U is "The College for Everyone", with requirements that are practically non-existent, and yet, even they reject Rigby's application. Even Benson, who has rarely shown restraint to call out Rigby for his laziness and impulsive hijinks, winces how damaging the letter is to him.
  • Earlier in the movie, Benson asks Muscle Man if he orchestrated Future Rigby's crash-landing and subsequent story about the Timenado for a prank. While Muscle Man is somewhat flattered that Benson believes his skills are that good, he notes that the current situation is far too insane for him to conceive of and is genuinely concerned about how distressing it is for his friends. He also would never listen to orchestra music.
• Evil Laugh: Ross does a lot of these. He mocks Mordecai's and Rigby's usual "OOOHHH!", with him breaking out into a cough at the end.
• Family-Unfriendly Death: Ross's decapitation.
• Forged Message: Rigby created a fake letter from College U that said Mordecai was rejected so that he wouldn't be left behind. After Mordecai finds out the deception, he angrily disowns Rigby as his friend for ruining his chance to achieve better things in life.
• Foreshadowing:
  • In the beginning of the present time, Mordecai punches Rigby for lying about getting gas in the cart, even asking him to tell the truth for once angrily.
  • In the past, Present Mordecai and Rigby tell their past selfs that they got into College U. Rigby looks at Mordecai with guilt briefly.
• Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: As he is dying, Future Mordecai admits he shouldn't have turned to evil all because of Rigby lying to him about his rejection letter.
• Future Badass: We see shots of everyone as this. Especially Mordecai and Rigby, with Benson and Muscle Man lampshading how much more awesome Future Rigby has become.
• Future Me Scares Me: Mordecai is shocked to learn he killed Rigby in the future.
• Hard Truth Aesop: As it says in Rigby's rejection letter, "college isn't for everyone". Sometimes, your friends will move on without you, and that's sad, but the best thing you can do is accept it. Holding them back won't help in the long run; Mordecai is (understandably) livid when he learns that Rigby cost him a chance to go to college and dooming him to work in a dead-end job so Mordecai didn't go off without his "best friend".
• Heel–Face Turn: Future Mordecai after Rigby reads his rejection letter into College U.
• Heroic Sacrifice:
  • Future Benson gives Future Rigby enough time to escape before getting killed.
  • Rigby attempts to throw the plutonium into the Timenado to make up for the fake rejection letter, even though he's not wearing a containment suit. Unlike most examples, he survives.
• High-Class Glass: Future Benson has one, although due to its black color it could easily be just an Eyepatch of Power.
• I Did What I Had to Do: Rigby says that he had to forge Mordecai's rejection letter and said that he would have gone off to college without him.
  Rigby: I had to. You would've gone off to college without me.
• I Lied: Ross tries to kill Mordecai, even after forcing Rigby to read the rejection letter.
• I'll Kill You!: Ross screams something similar during the climax.
  Ross: I'LL BE FINISHED WHEN TIME IS ERASED AND YOU TWO ARE DEAD!!!
• Ironic Echo: Ross states "Set me up" each time he uses his volleyball bomb. Rigby says the same thing as he defeats Ross
• Jerkass Has a Point: While it's easy to feel sympathy for Rigby for forging Mordecai's college rejection letter because he didn’t want to lose the only friend he has, Mordecai still had every right to be mad at him for doing such a thing.
• Kick the Dog: Ross forces Rigby to read his rejection letter and reveal that he forged Mordecai's before trying to kill Mordecai right in front of him.
• Knight of Cerebus: Ross is lacking in any comedic traits.
• Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Ross mockingly uses Mordecai and Rigby's "Ooooooohhh!" and says everybody hates it, expressing the opinion of some viewers who are sick of hearing it.
• Lonely at the Top: Future Mordecai tells his past self that while he did ultimately move up in the world he was completely alone at the end of it.
• Naked People Trapped Outside: After having his clothes ripped off by the space toilet in Rigby's ship, Muscle Man has to go to the bathroom outside. By the time he gets back the ship is gone, taken by his past self, so he goes around naked for much of the second act.
• Nature Tinkling: Muscle Man and High Five Ghost make the decision to pee in the bushes because of the space toilet sucking Muscle Man's clothes off.
• Never My Fault: Rigby constantly denies that he cost the volleyball team an important victory even when presented with video proof to the contrary. He eventually averts it by not only admitting responsibility but apologizing.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Rigby is ultimately responsible for the plot by acting like he does today back in high school.
• Off with His Head!: How Rigby defeats Ross.
• One-Steve Limit: "The one and only!"
• Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure: Halfway through the film, after Rigby is forced to reveal the truth about his rejection letter, Mordecai furiously disowns him as his best friend. This breaks Rigby's heart, and he runs away and takes off on the ship.
• Properly Paranoid: Benson is led to believe that Future Rigby crashing in the park is a prank. It kinda is.
• Previews Pulse: The trailer had two: an Inception-like sound near the start, and a high-pitched airy noise that is heard throughout.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Rigby's rejection letter has subtle elements of this, with the park crew having pained and saddened expressions throughout him reading it. Benson practically winces when Rigby reads that they (the committee) hope that he (Rigby) understands why they did this, before continuing with if you can even understand this letter.
  "From the Admittance Office of College University, Dear Rigby, we regret to inform you that you have not been accepted into this Fall's freshman class at College University. Though College University is a massive school, and it was a record year for how little applications we received, the admissions committee simply could not find any reason to include you in our enrolling class. The deans were obliged to select among candidates who clearly could do the minimum work required at C.U. We hope you can understand our situation, if you can understand this letter at all. But rest assured that we did not make this unanimous decision on a whim and as a result, we are not able to consider any appeals to this decision, so don't even try. Though our school motto is "The College for Everyone", sometimes college isn't for everyone. We thank you for your interest in C.U., but again, to reiterate, we won't be seeing you anytime soon. Or ever. Sincerely, the Admissions Board at College University."
• Redemption Equals Death: Played straight with Future Mordecai, who takes the blast meant for his past self, but is mortally wounded for it. Averted with Present Rigby, who tries to sacrifice himself to atone for "ruining Mordecai's life", but Mordecai decides that he's not okay with his best friend dying, even if he's upset at him for what he did.
• Senior Year Struggles: The conflict of the film originates in Mordecai and Rigby's senior year of school just as they're on the verge of graduating. The two had hoped to go to community college together, but Rigby's GPA is so abysmal he is rejected. Desperate not to lose his friend, he fakes a rejection letter for Mordecai as well. The truth comes to light in the present day timeline of the film and threatens their friendship. What's more, the villain is their high school science teacher and volleyball coach out for revenge against Rigby for costing the school the volleyball championship. By the end, we see that their past selves ended up expelled for causing a lab explosion when tampering with the coach's experimental time orb.
• Series Continuity Error: According to this movie, both Rigby and Mordecai were expelled from high school. This doesn't make sense since Mordecai was established to have a high school diploma and Rigby's stated to be a dropout. It's likely they transferred to another high school.
  • Early episodes portrayed Mordecai as an art school dropout, while the movie implies he's never been to college.
• Set Right What Once Went Wrong: The main goal is to stop the Timenado by destroying Ross's time machine before he built it. This is also Rigby's intent to keep Mordecai from hating him and joining Ross's side.
• Shout-Out:
  • The opening to many video games of the 80's and early 90's, more specifically, Galaga.
  • Many to Back to the Future since a lot of the plot involves time travel.
  • Ross mentions that he had 9 seasons of Everybody Loves Raymond to watch.
  • The battle between Ross, Mordecai, and Rigby is similar to he one between Darth Vader and Luke in The Empire Strikes Back. It even takes place in a similar setting.
• Sixth Ranger: Techmo in the final part.
• Stable Time Loop: Despite managing to fix the timeline and keeping Ross from creating the time machine, the events still transpire as occured: the principal has Past Ross fired and arrested for tampering with plutonium to make the machine and Past Mordecai and Rigby are expelled for blowing up the science wing.
• Taking the Bullet: Future Mordecai takes a shot to save his past self.
• This Is Unforgivable!: Future Mordecai is furious at Rigby for lying to him.
  "I know what you did, Rigby, and I'll never forgive you!"
• Title: The Adaptation: Regular Show: The Movie.
• Took a Level in Badass: Rigby; in the future, and during the film's climax.
• Trailers Always Lie: The trailer was making it appear that Rigby was the one who betrayed the group and turned evil in the future... when it was actually Mordecai.
• Villain Has a Point: Ross is a total crazo by his own admission but he is completely right that Rigby ruined an important game for the team he was coaching and also ultimately got him fired.
• Was Too Hard on Him: Mordecai denounces Rigby for forging his rejection letter and lying to him about it, blaming him for ruining his life, but a dying Future Mordecai tells him that he shouldn't have sided with Ross all because of what Rigby did and choosing his evil career over his friend. Later when Rigby apologizes for his actions, Mordecai admits he shouldn't have put so much blame on him for everything that has happened and forgives him.
• We Used to Be Friends: A major plot element is Mordecai's and Rigby's friendship being at stake.
• Wham Line:
  • After finding out that Rigby forged his rejection letter and lied to him about it, Mordecai furiously breaks his friendship with him.
    Mordecai: You're not my friend. All you've ever done is hold me back. And I'm the idiot for not seeing it until now.
  • Ross reveals that Rigby never got into College U but Mordecai did.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Mordecai calls Rigby out for ruining his chances of getting into college.
  Mordecai: I can't believe you, Rigby. All this time you were lying to me?! And what? So you forged my rejection letter? Is that it?
  Rigby: Yeah, but-
  Mordecai: ARGH! Why would you do that?
  Rigby: I had to! You would've gone off to college without me!
  Mordecai: You don't get it, do you?!
  Rigby: It was just one lie! I was just trying to....
  Mordecai: It's always just one thing with you! You don't do that to your best friend! Ugh! You're... (grunts) You're the reason I'm stuck in this DEAD-END JOB!!
  Rigby: Well, I'm stuck too. Who better to be stuck with than your friend?
  Mordecai: ...You're not my friend. All you've ever done is hold me back, and I'm the idiot for not seeing it until now.

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