By Kayla Cheung
Whether it’s purely for nostalgic purposes or simply a genuine love for the show and movies, Phineas and Ferb will always hold a special place in Gen-Z’s hearts. While there is no doubt that making movie after movie as an expansion to a TV series that ended years ago usually goes terribly, Phineas and Ferb: Candace Against the Universe was a perfect edition to the Phineas and Ferb content lineup. In the movie, main characters Phineas and Ferb glide through outer space to save their sister Candace and her friend Vanessa. But there is more to the venturous plot than a basic saving-the-damsel-in-distress storyline.
Candace, who has never had the spotlight in any place throughout the series, was finally given her own movie. This time around, she was given the attention that her character has always deserved — and by the end of the movie, there was finally a clear common ground between Candace and her brothers.
Executive Producers Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh gave viewers a completely different variety of adventure with the same excellent examples of friendship and loyalty that come with all of Phineas and Ferb’s endeavors. The usual themes of action and adventure are amplified with an intergalactic trip involving the clique and one very strange looking doctor.
In this movie, the galaxy was indulgently crafted, with entrancing views of the depths of space. The movie takes place mostly on a distant (unfortunately fictional) planet, Feebla-Oot. There are warm colors on the planet, and the landscape is reminiscent of psychedelic art, complete with gargantuan mushrooms that look a bit more malicious than delicious. Phineas and Ferb, the gang, along with the infamous Dr. Doofenshmirtz, contrast everything they encounter on Feebla-Oot concerning the clothing. Those abstract constituents were eye-catching, to say the least — especially during the “Meet our Leader ” musical number, which sounded like a co-ed barbershop quartet.
The movie’s soundtrack, in general, was very much what Phineas and Ferb fans are used to, with a sprinkle of aggression in the first song, “Such a Beautiful Day”, which is a juxtaposition of Candace’s two most popular moods: angry and bubbly.
Phineas and Ferb: Candace Against the Universe was, at its core, an homage to Candace for all of the summer days she spent trying to bust her siblings and the repeated bashing she received from her Mother. Candace’s cries for attention have been heard, while the regular banter carries on between Phineas and Ferb, Isabella’s characteristic headstrong attitude, and the perfectly put-together toolbox of creative inventions.
