Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews (17)

The "real" ending to Dexter's Laboratory.

[Theraxorterminate · 7/10 · 23 September 2013]

"Spoiler free review"

I think all the fans and I should know that this was intended to be the very last of the series as of what Genndy Tartakovsky wanted. I loved Dexter's Laboratory when I was young even though I always got mad at DeeDee whenever she destroyed something for Dexter, but luckily we don't get to see her much in the whole movie.

But the first time I saw this movie when I was 7 I think, I thought the movie was too awesome and wanted to see it again and again. Watching it again I could still feel the awesomeness but at the same time I could see clearly how the movie got some flaws. The flaws isn't exactly annoying or horrible to watch, but because of it's time limit it will likely not explain everything.

The animation itself is as the series very good and concentrated. Genndy and the crew did a very good job to make sure the movie still had the same feeling as the series. The story itself is quite different but a good story boarding to tell how the young Dexter decides to see the one who saved the future which of course he believe he did it. But suddenly comes across with the other Dexter's of himself in the future. The adult or wimpy Dexter, the old Dexter and of course the Action Dexter (Suddenly Dexter became rugged as his favorite TV-hero Action Hank). They were all different except still having their genius intelligence. The music is more epic and loyal to Dexter on his personal mission.

As what I said about the flaws, the problem of the story might be of it's time limit. If only the movie were longer I think it would make the movie more interesting and deeper to the time traveling and the older Dexter's life. It also lacked some characters but I guess that Genndy were mostly concentrating on the Dexter and Mandark rivalry. Concentrating on the older Dexter's they might give you a different feeling to them like they are the supporting characters instead of they are the original Dexter. Some people were criticizing about the lack of humor, in my opinion I found the humor to be enough to entertain myself with the way Dexter's Lab is. The old Dexter was the funniest character in the whole movie.

So all in all this less than 50 minutes movie was still entertaining and is definitely a more loyal and good ending to one of Cartoon Network's masterpieces. Despite it's flaws I still think the movie is worth watching how many times you want, but you definitely need to be a Dexter's Lab fan and you must have some philosophical interests especially when it comes to time traveling. Not perfect but a perfect ending and premise to the series.

"A little comment to CommonSenseMedia"

(The movie itself is not sexist at all and just because of it's beginning it doesn't make the whole movie sexist and inappropriate to children. It's not trippy either. I think that you should not worry so much about what the movie gives. This movie is at least not to bad to show the children. And maybe the movie indeed is aimed for young boys but there are girls that can as well enjoy it too.)

For me, this special was the ending of the "Dexter's Laboratory" series

[Rectangular_businessman · 8/10 · 1 July 2013]

I consider this television special to be the real ending of the "Dexter's Laboratory" cartoon. It gave an appropriate closure to the Dexter/Mandark rivalry showing their respective futures in an almost "epic" scale.

Is a completely satisfying resolution, so there is no need to watch any of the episodes that were produced after this (I'm talking about the episodes from the last two seasons that were made without Genndy Tartakovsky which were awful, had boring plots and a horrible animation style.)

This movie was cool and well made, and it was very entertaining to watch, having all the good elements that made the series popular in first place. And the funny ending, after all the seriousness was a nice touch in my opinion.

Rick and Morty 25 years before Rick and Morty.

[GiraffeDoor · 8/10 · 20 November 2019]

Fascinating time travel adventure that you could think about for days afterwood.

Maybe a bit much for someone not familiar with the character, but it makes perhaps the best feature length outing the fans could have wished for since something schmaltzy would be so off-brand. A TV movie and feels like it but it's perfect in that regard.

The anything-goes, science fiction humour of the series is perfectly judged as the narrative takes us from dystopia to utopia using fantastic back grounds, captivating design and technology and four immensely different versions of the same character collaborating for an epic climax worthy of Futurama of Rick and Morty.

it's funny and also rather frightening. That torture scene...

Awesome!

[the-phantom2 · 10/10 · 30 January 2005]

Finally! Cartoon Network surprises us with a kick-butt movie! Genndy shows us an awesome finale to the series, filled with Action, Adventure, and a load of Dexter comedy that the new series lacks significantly (probibly cause he's not in it.) Anyways, the movie shows us the future in the dexter universe and reveals many new pieces in the show. I remember when I first saw it on a Sunday morning after taping it the night b4. It retains all the quality and Hana-Barbera goodness we don't see now, after it became Cartoon Network Studios. This should have been the last entry into the series, (as Genny wanted,) but was continued with not much of acception, (i didn't like it either,) My advise: If you liked "Last but not Beast" you'll love this one..... I hope.

Simply funny. The Phantom

Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip

[jboothmillard · 6/10 · 13 July 2005]

This is a TV made film starring the tiny genius character that kids have grown to love on Cartoon Network. Basically Dexter is working peacefully in his lab, and being distracted by Dee Dee for a while. Meanwhile, his nemesis Mandark has created a small green power source or something. Dexter decides to see how he apparently saved the future. He is accompanied by mid future Dexter, far future Dexter and later warrior Dexter. They all fight against their own times Mandarks as well. In the end the four Dexters find out it wasn't them that saved the future, it was Dee Dee. Quite a good TV made film for a good cartoon show. Good!

A must-see for all fans!

[mines1985 · 8/10 · 20 March 2002]

I personally enjoy Dexter's Lab, and watch it whenever I can. When "Ego Trip" was first put on TV in 1999, my brother and I made sure we had a blank tape to record it on. It goes along with the typical "Dexter" style, including animation, which naturally isn't entirely the best. Even so, I found the movie very funny and enjoyable, with a good ending - following the typical style of Dexter's Lab where it kind of leaves you a bit hanging at the end. I recommend this to all people who enjoy the show "Dexter's Lab."

A perfect Movie For a DEXTER's LAB fan.. must see

[nisarg16 · 7/10 · 1 January 2007]

Dexter travel in time to unravel the mystery of killer robots and the End is the story of EGO Trip. Genndy tartakovsky has made memorable piece just like the episode the Big Cheese etc. I would say a perfect movie for dexter fan.. it has all the elements of the dexter's lab show.Its got MAndark and Dee Dee. well Directed laugh riot with drama and suspense..... The story line is superb. And has the And really sorry for being a spoiler here but i cannot resist its a highlight .. perfect OOOOOO what does this button do End!!! awesome... A bit short nonetheless.. should have been a full length movie.. And it deserved a theater release like others...not just a TV release...

I love those girlies!

[timgeocity · 10/10 · 2 October 2007]

Awww. I love those girlies. The girlies who gave Mandark a bath, Sarah (the blonde) and Rita (the brunette), while Mandark was yelling at that teenage Dexter and exposing his ass to the whole wide world (AKA the Viewers). Ohhhh, I love those sweeties. I love those girlies. But wait! that scene is highly erotic in my lifetime, and should have got Genndy Tartakovsky and his Hanna Barbara and Cartoon Network animators condemned by some, if not, many parents, for animating such an erotic moment for TV. But, I love those girlies who Mandark a bath, one blonde haired, the other, black haired. I love those beautiful and pretty sweeties. Kootchy, Kootchy, Kootchy, Kootchy, Kootchy...xxxxxxxxxxxxx (kisses)

The best movie for the best cartoon ever!

[sylviaharris513 · 10/10 · 22 December 2012]

Even if i am writing this review 13 years after the movies release, this is still my most favorite cartoon movie ever. The storyline was pure gold, its action scenes were amazing, the pure funniness in every scene, and the inappropriateness of it all was GENIUS! Old-Man Dexter just made me laugh to the verge of crying. Although there are a few frightening scenes throughout, the funniness overpowers the whole movie! The fight between dexter and the robots in the beginning were awesome! Dexter's use of the wrench made it seem like a killing machine. And the animation was very clean and smooth. too bad it was never longer than 1 hour, then the movie would've become a near classic.

Hard to follow but some fun

[Birdmousedog · 5/10 · 20 August 2003]

My young son is a big fan of the TV show and I usually get a chuckle out of the goofy family Dexter is forced to deal with, so we grabbed this from the rental shelf to check it out.

The movie is all about Dexter (present and future) and his nemesis, Mandark. There is little of sister DeeDee, and no sign of glove-wearing mom or good old dad. Dexter travels forward in time, then forward still further, then back a little between the first two jumps (I think) in order to meet his future self who he believes "saved the future". He meets and joins up with future versions of himself who are all quite different from present Dexter.

This normally brightly colored cartoon was fairly monochrome in this long feature, and the time jumping was hard to follow a viewer of any age. It lacked the usual characters and laughs of a short episode, but it wasn't meant to be Shrek or anything... (5/10)

BTW - the only part to make me and my son laugh out loud was at the very end when all the Dexter's were saying their farewells... Goodbye Billy! Some more flat out humor and less misery would have been nice.

Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip is a trip worth taking.

[ironhorse_iv · 8/10 · 25 September 2016]

In the early 1990s, Cartoon Network was still trying to find its mojo. Known only as the channel that re-aired extensive film library of old cartoons from the 1940s until the early 1980s; the network began to create their own set of animation in the mid-1990s, by creating a show called 'What a Cartoon!' or better known as 'Cartoon Cartoons'. Spearheaded by Fred Seibert, the concept of the show was to showcase new cartoons shorts to the audience, and once the shorts got popular, the Network would create a spin-off show about it. The most famous early one of these was 'Dexter's Laboratory'; a show about a boy-genius Dexter (Voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) and inventor, who constantly battling his sister, Dee Dee (Voiced by Kat Cressida) in an attempt to keep her out of his secret laboratory, while engaging in a bitter rivalry with his neighbor and fellow-genius Mandark (Voiced by Eddie Deezen). Without spoiling the movie, too much, the film also focus the same concept as the show, but add time-travel to the mix, as Dexter wanted to see, how he save the world in the future, when robots came to the past to kill him. Created and director by animator Genndy Tartakovsky, and originally aired on December 10, 1999 as a special TV movie. The film is surprising well-written with clever, yet brilliant twists and turns. Yet, like any other 'time travel' movie, there also seem to be, some parts of the film that are very confusing like how Dexter cannot remember, how he save/doom the world. The film writes it off, the reason, because of his massive ego. Hints the title of this piece. Yet, the paradoxes are very alarming, when you come across, the fact that Mandark knew his fate, too. Time travel movies are always complicated. Yet, I like, each version of the future that Dexter goes to, as it relates to masculinity. First, there is the 'Orwellian' draconian future where everybody is control by Mandrake's propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and label as numbers, through Capitalism style politics when it comes to technology. It's clearly, the precarious manhood stage of Dexter's self, because, he isn't willing to share his technology with others, even if it's for the greater good, due to fear of it being misused. It wasn't, until, his masculinity evolve, post-apocalyptic, that you see that he willing to have some courage. Yet, society still somewhat loses. Lastly, in the utopian future, Dexter's patriarchy shows, how society have fallen from one dictator to another, with the open-technology politics. No matter, how great, life might seem, there is still somewhat of an authoritarian with the older Dexter at the top. Great art direction, around, with some cool action sequences. It's also pretty cool to see, how Dexter would age, over the years. It gave the movie, some of its best jokes with them, interacting with each other. My favorite is Grandpa Dexter, also voiced by Christine Cavanaugh. The voice acting was also great. I like the fact that many of the original cast from the first and second season return to do, this movie. The movie was also very funny, with most of the jokes, hitting the funny bone. I also love the call backs to episodes like Season 1, Episode 2 'Dexter Dodgeball' and Season 1, Episode 3 'Old Man Dexter' others. Yet, I kinda wish, the movie had a little more continuous with the TV's episodes than it did. After all, what did happen to Mandrake's thought reading device!? Anyways, originally intended to conclude the series, the film maintained successful ratings for the channel, despite mixed reviews from critics; it led to Cartoon Network reviving the show for two more seasons in 2001. However, it probably, wasn't the best idea, since Genndy Tartakovsky left to work on other projects. Since he was gone, it allow another studio and animator to take over. The results of this, not only made, all of the characters look significantly different, due to the change from traditional cel animation to digital-ink-and-paint, but the fact, that the series also went through a lot of Retconning as well, contradicting the previous incarnation of the series, more than the original did. That was a no-no. Surprising, the series concluded, a few years later in November 2003 in a quiet deadly death. I manage to watch this movie on VHS. However, as of this date of writing, this movie has not been put on DVD. I just glad, the VHS version, includes the episodes, Season 1, Episode 9 "The Justice Friends: Krunk's Date" and Season 1, Episode 2, "Dial M for Monkey: Rasslor', because I'm a huge fan of Wrestling and Marvel Comics. Overall: While, there's plenty of cartoon violence here, some sexual innuendo and some harsh language. Yet, it's nothing that children at the time, hasn't saw before. In the end, it's an entertaining movie worth checking out for both kids, now and kids, then.

A really good movie of Dexter's Laboratory

[alishahmohd · 8/10 · 25 April 2015]

I grew up as a huge fan of the Dexter's Laboratory TV series, I was a huge fan, and I was always looking forward to it's episodes on cartoon network.Boomerang cartoon were just awesome, Dexter's lab, along with Powerpuff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog and Ed, Edd and Eddy were among my favorites. But out of all them I loved Dexter's lab the most. I loved Dexter's character and found Dee annoying, his parents were also hilarious and funny in an entertaining sort of way. Once the second season ended in 1998. The director of the TV series came up with the idea for a movie for Dexter's laboratory.

Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip includes most of the elements which made the TV series great, Dexter's character, Mandark, Dexter's rivalry with Mandark, Dee Dee's tendency to push buttons. Although most of this movie is focused on the rivalry between Dexter and Mandark, Dee hardly gets any screen time, Mom and Dad only appear at the start never to be seen again, that is a disappointment, along with that Ego Trip is not a full length movie, it was lasts for around 50 minutes. Which is far less time. Maybe they could have made this movie longer and had other characters make a cameo or had Dad, Mom or Dee Dee get more screen time or have dexter spend more time future time period.

I heard people saying that the movie was too dark with a lack of humor, I disagree, I found wimpy Dexter hilarious, his interactions with younger Dexter were also funny. Old Dexter was the funniest Dexter and his interactions with the other two were also hilarious. Mandark on the other hand also has his funny moments. Sadly Dee who was a major part of the series' humor does not appear a lot, but the ending scene in which she appears with all the Mandarks saying "Dee Dee" was funny.

Additionally the film is well voice acted just like the TV series, the animations are fantastic just like they were in the first two seasons of the show, the action packed scenes including Action Dexter fighting mandark's robots, and all the dexters fighting the Mandarks and his minion robots was also entertaining and the background art and animations of the cities and different time periods was presented well. the soundtrack is also great just like the TV show.

Apart from several characters not making an appearance, many not getting screen time, there is not much wrong with this movie. Although I wish it was longer, but its short length gives it tons of replay value, you may as well want to watch it just like you watch the episodes of the TV series of Dexter's Lab.

Overall Ego trip is an entertaining affair and a really good cartoon movie just just a few shortcomings, but if you were a fan of the TV show you will find this movie enjoyable. Many people consider this the last episode of Dexter's Lab as seasons 3 and 4 are not that well liked among the fans. Now I don't think seasons 3 and 4 were terrible, they had a few good episodes, but this movie is more on par with the first two seasons of Dexter's laboratory which made the series so great.

Rating: 8/10

Why did they make this movie?

[mentor397 · 2/10 · 4 May 2002]

I love the show, it was great. The movie on the other hand, stunk. I'm glad they decided to make the movie, but not this one. The show is funny - filled with little tidbits that appeal to older as well as younger viewers. The movie was dark, unfunny, and very simple. It seems as if they just decided they needed to write a movie and made one before they got a good idea for it. (5/10)

Forgettable

[Dar_Sargent · 3/10 · 18 September 2022]

This TV movie has stylish animation, and there was clearly ambition here, but the result is an awkwardly-paced, surprisingly dull film.

The plot is simple: Boy genius Dexter travels through time, teams up with 3 of his future selves (young adult Dexter, middle-aged Dexter, and elderly Dexter), and then they stop his rival Mandark from taking over the world.

As an adventure, it's very disappointing. The interesting parts are all told in flashback, so most of the movie is Dexter passively wandering from one setting to the next, just looking at the situation and hearing some horribly tedious explanation about it. They took "time traveling boy genius on a quest to save the world" and made him the most boring character they possibly could.

Mandark is the only other real character in the movie, and he's in "completely generic villain" mode with nothing remotely interesting about him.

The movie basically has 2 notes: occasional action scenes, and lots of long scenes where characters talk and talk and TALK and TALK. This could be OK if the dialogue was funny, but most of it just repeats points that we could already see onscreen, like the writers thought it was a radio play. It's also a problem that a TON of dialogue goes to "young adult Dexter," whose voice is like nails on a chalkboard. I found myself skipping through scenes where the characters droned on and on and on, just wishing that they'd actually do something fun or interesting with the time travel gimmick. The tedious, talky writing was a gigantic misstep that bogs down the entire movie.

The creators put more effort into the action scenes, but even these are dull and forgettable... Dexter runs away from generic baddies, he fights the pretty wimpy Mandark at the end, and he smashes some robots who stand there waiting to be beaten. Action isn't fun when you're defeating such lame bad guys.

For me, the biggest letdown was that Dee Dee is barely in the movie. The original series worked entirely because Dexter and Dee Dee were a great double act who played off each other so well. There's so much you could do with Dee Dee getting involved in a time-traveling adventure! And a stoic character like Dexter *needs* a fun foil, especially in a 50-minute runtime. But since Dee Dee has only one line in the whole film, and it sounds like a recycled sound clip from the show, I'm guessing that her voice actress couldn't take part. It's a real shame.

The creators clearly got the VAs for Dexter's parents to do a couple lines, but they chose not to use those fun characters either. If the series was like a tasty stew of varied flavors, this movie is like a bowl of plain oatmeal.

I honestly wouldn't recommend this movie to fans of the show. Almost everything that made the show fun and great is gone, and the only reason to see this is the animation style. (And honestly, the style peaks in the opening seconds, with a very cool and classy black-and-white sequence of Mandark in silhouette. Nothing else in the movie looks as good as that first part.)

There just isn't much entertainment value here. Only bother watching it if you're really curious, or if you're studying the creators' overall work.

not what I expected, but its good

[ziga18 · 24 March 2002]

Dexters Ego Trip is a good animation story about a boy, which is travelling through time to stop the Mandark to "take the world". The battles is very realistic, but I didnt find any satiric elements, which is naturally showed in the series(except one in the end), but i like the story, when dexter meets the dexter in the future, which is different, its kind of funny:) The animation is brought from the series. If you like the series, you got to watch this.

This movie is brilliant!

[Lagomorph01 · 8 July 2004]

The show is really good and this movie is great too! It has a more serious story line that's true, but the overall humor and great characters bring the whole thing together so that it fits like a glove! The whole style is awesome too, the coloring is real good, varying from the green colorful dexter scheme to the dark red Mandark scheme (which in one moment overrules the entire world). The robot in the fighting sequence is unbelievably good designed and the ending is as unexpected as it is hilarious! I can't believe some people rate this as a bad movie. The only thing that is negative is it's duration, I'd like to have seen a evening filling dexter presentation.