Family Guy Presents: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side (2009)

Something, Something, Something, Dark Side is the second of three Star Wars parody specials produced by Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy operation for Fox, following Blue Harvest (2007), which had tackled A New Hope. This instalment takes on The Empire Strikes Back, widely regarded as the strongest of the original trilogy, which sets a fairly high bar for a spoof to work against. The special was split across three directing credits, Dominic Polcino, Peter Shin, and James Purdum, a fairly standard arrangement for a production of this scale in television animation. Like its predecessor, it was released as a standalone DVD before airing on Fox, a format that proved commercially reliable for the franchise. MacFarlane was, by 2009, at something of a peak in terms of his television footprint, with both Family Guy and American Dad running concurrently.

Something, Something, Dark Side, Family Guy’s parody of The Empire Strikes Back, is more of the same chaotic, reference-heavy madness as Blue Harvest, and if you liked the first one, you’ll find things to enjoy here. The gang returns with Peter still playing Han (sort of), Stewie fully embracing his Vader complex, and Brian doing a sleepy, unimpressed Yoda impression from the comfort of a swamp-shaped recliner. There are some genuinely funny moments. It’s ambitious in scope, covering most of Empire’s major segments, from Hoth to Cloud City to the big reveal. You can feel the strain of padding out a feature-length parody with a formula that works better in five-minute bursts. The cutaways are still hit-or-miss: some land hard, others fall flat or feel recycled. And while the animation has improved slightly since Blue Harvest, it’s still awkward when trying to match the scale and tone of the original film. Look, it’s not great cinema, and it doesn’t come close to matching the emotional weight or storytelling of Empire. But as a silly, irreverent fan tribute, it’s entertaining in doses. Same energy, same flaws. A fun watch if you’re rewatching the trilogy and need a laugh, but don’t expect anything deeper than a fart joke in hyperspace.

Rating: ★★★  | Year: 2009  | Watched: 2025-09-11

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Related on Movies With Macca

More from Dominic Polcino: Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest (2007)
More with Seth MacFarlane: Family Guy Presents: It's a Trap! (2010) · Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest (2007)
More from the 2000s: Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) · Daredevil (2003) · Apocalypto (2006)
More animation: Fantastic Planet (1973) · Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain (2024) · Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage (2025)
More comedy: The Eagle (1925) · The General (1926) · Americana (2023) · The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)