Written by Joss Whedon & Jed Whedon & Zack Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen
Directed by Joss Whedon
“If you’re going to get into the Evil League of Evil, you have to have a memorable laugh. What, do you think Bad Horse didn’t work on his whinny? His terrible, death whinny?”
Wither Joss Whedon?
The writer-creator-executive producer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel went into a bit of a self-imposed exile, after the FOX network’s ridiculous and insipid treatment of his last series, the brilliant Firefly. A few comic book writing assignments, and a new show (Dollhouse) that will premiere this fall…
But what has been up to in between?
He’s come up with a musical tragi-comedy that is (for now) only available on-line, in three acts that combine into a 43 minute opera of such lovely goodness that it will make you weep with laughter and sadness…many times…simultaneously! It’s obviously inspired by Whedon’s success with the Buffy musical episode Once More, With Feeling…but THIS is lightyears beyond that outing (which is quite the achievement).
DR.HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG is a simple story with a simple premise. It’s about a young & ambitious mad scientist named Doctor Horrible (actual name: Billy). He’s trying to get into the Evil League of Evil, run by Bad Horse (“The Thoroughbred of Sin”). He video-blogs about his Evil League application & his quest to fulfill his evil ambitions (which leads to a few extra bruises he never considered).
But the end of the line approaches: Dr. Horrible has been given one last chance by the league, and he has a number of problems he must deal with…
(1) For being such an evil & bitter man, he’s also surprisingly gentle…which doesn’t help his cause…
(2) His nemesis is Captain Hammer, a cheesy-goody-goody-dumb ass of super-powered muscle, played brilliantly by ex-Firefly member Nathan Fillion. Fillion is utterly preposterous — and utterly brilliant — as the self-obsessed, square-jawed hero who is always frustrating Dr. Horrible’s plans…
(3) Penny — played by Felicia Dey. A newcomer taking the internet world by storm, she’s delightful, and she unknowingly has smitten Billy wrapped around her little finger…but Captain Hammer has moved in on her, to Billy’s utter disgust!
“Alright…the wait is over. This, my friends, is my freeze ray, which, with the addition of the wonderfluonium I obtained at my famously successful heist last week…I say successful in that I achieved my objective. It was less successful in that I inadvertently introduced my arch-nemesis to the girl of my dreams, and now he’s taking her out on dates, and they’re probably going to…french kiss or something.”
It’s hilarious beyond description (the friend/henchman who is constantly moist is beyond mere words). It’s surprisingly poignant. It has a few shocking moments that will leave you gaping at the screen. It has amazing production values for something made for the internet out of (primarily) love, and Whedon’s own pocket. It concludes with a final, fleeting moment of such tragic power that you’ll flinch, in spite of whatever self-control you think you possess. It’s full of all the ingenuity Whedon demonstrated with Buffy, Angel & Firefly (many of the writers of those shows also appear in the cast). As for the musical aspect, not only are the songs beautifully composed, but the overlapping harmonies are positively angelic!
Perhaps Joss Whedon IS an angel… 
It’s all anchored by Neil Patrick Harris as Billy/Dr. Horrible. Already basking in his recent success as a sitcom star, the former Doogie Howser star demonstrates skills that blow away most of the current crop of network television actors. His singing voice is excellent, his comic timing will destroy your bladder control, and his dramatic moments are beautifully understated. He’s completely charming, completely evil, and completely conflicted. His performance deserves (nee…demands!) an Emmy…IF this was available on television…
…and thank all that is holy that it ISN’T on television! The main networks would never program such innovative, wonderful stuff. The cable stations would never invest in such a one-off. So, like any good 21st century genius geek master, Joss Whedon gives the finger to the mainstream media and puts it on the internet, where a more disceringing audience might appreciate it…an audience that is far larger than anything accessible to current network television. Get it from itunes, get it from someone who already bought it, and watch it (and don’t worry…a DVD release is in the works). It will be the most satisfying 43 minutes you’ll have spent in months!
You’ll also end up desiring your very own freeze ray…but remember: if you get one, it takes a few seconds to warm up before use. 
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