An Animated Space Odyssey - ‘Mars’- Review

Beginning with accidentally sprayed Russian mucus and ending with deliberately deployed American urine, the plot of “Mars”  owes at least as much to bodily fluids as it does to science fiction. Low key, low budget and low energy, this animated space odyssey from the writer and director Geoff Marslett accompanies three mismatched astronauts to the red planet and the search for new life forms. Constantly monitored by Shep (Howe Gelb) at Mission Control and a pair of perky television journalists (Liza Weil and James Kochalka), the astronauts bicker and bond. Charlie (Mark Duplass), a cocky celebrity famous for a long-ago space walk, spends most of his time bedazzling his standard-issue jumpsuit. Casey (Zoe Simpson), a gung-ho New Zealand doctor, dreams of being the first person on Mars. Meanwhile their leader, Hank (Paul Gordon), nursing a perpetually stoned affect, works on developing a personality.

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