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  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

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    On an estimated budget of $165 million, Doctor Strange grossed over $232 million domestically and $677 million worldwide. The film also earned critical appraisal and an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects but lost to The Jungle Book. In 2017, Scott Derrickson announced that he would be returning to helm a sequel and finalized the deal in 2018. Unfortunately, Marvel and Derrickson announced in 2020 that he would be leaving the project over creative differences. Despite his reluctance due to how Spider-Man 3 turned out, Sam Raimi agreed to take on the project. Michael Waldron, who previously wrote Rick & Morty and Loki, was brought to rewrite the script with Raimi. Principal photography began in November 2020, and much of the cast was excited to be working with Raimi. After numerous delays due to COVID and rescheduling, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness hit theaters in May 2022.

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    Synopsis

    A young woman named America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), who can travel between dimensions, ends up in our world. A giant, one-eyed creature is chasing after her, which Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) sees and goes to fight. After he rescues her, America explains her situation to Strange and Wong (Benedict Wong) and asks for their help. Strange decides to visit Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) for assistance, only to learn she sent the monster after Chavez. It turns out Wanda wants America’s powers to travel to an alternate dimension where she can be with her sons. Strange refuses, so Wanda attacks Kamar-Taj, and America accidentally teleports herself and Strange to another world. Since Wanda’s power comes from a book called The Darkhold, Strange needs to find its antithesis, the Book of Vishanti. With the fate of the multiverse at stake, will our heroes succeed, and what will happen to America?

     

    Review

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is probably one of the most bizarre and insane Marvel movies. On the one hand, its out-there nature helps it stand out from the glut of superhero movies. On the other hand, its bizarre tone and convoluted plot may not attract more casual viewers. Without going into spoilers, there is so much going on in the story that it can be overwhelming. With Sam Raimi at the helm, this movie has the pulp superhero style as his Spider-Man trilogy and Darkman. Raimi also manages to work in some horror movie elements, one particular moment reminding me of Evil Dead II. For a PG-13 Marvel movie, there’s a surprising amount of carnage, with characters dying in horrifically brutal ways. They manage to go just far enough with the gore that the movie teeters the line between PG-13 and R.

    Benedict Cumberbatch is solid as the titular character, delivering plenty of charisma and wit mixed in with pathos. Relative newcomer Xochitl Gomez works well off of Cumberbatch, though she can come off as an annoying sidekick. The stand-out performance is from Elizabeth Olsen, who manages to be both terrifying and sympathetic as the Scarlet Witch. She’s one of those villains who does horrific things, but you can understand her motivation to have an everyday life. While Rachael McAdams has more to do this time around, Chiwetel Ejiofor has a much smaller role. As with any Marvel movie, the action sequences are larger than life and exciting, especially with Raimi at the helm. What helps is the score by Danny Elfman, which is probably one of the more memorable scores in the MCU. Overall, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may be a mess, but it’s an enjoyable mess.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Buy your tickets now to watch “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” playing in theaters starting May 6th![/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Slutty the Clown (2022)

    Slutty the Clown (2022)

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    Claire Bacon is a model and photographer from the UK who has worked on various shoots. She specialized in finding rundown, abandoned, and neglected urban areas and staging elaborate photoshoots with her husband Richard. In addition, she’s dabbled in cosplay, designing her costumes and creating unique characters, one of which was a psychopathic clown. At some point, she met aspiring filmmaker Joe Cash, who I talked about in my Carnal Monsters review. With his help, Claire expanded her character, Slutty the Clown, and the two discussed ideas for potential movies. Cash cast her for the short film She Dogs of the SS, which was part of the anthology Grindsploitation 9. After that, they gathered a budget of £500 and shot their dream project featuring Claire’s character. Following a brief filming period, Slutty the Clown finally premiered on the streaming service Troma NOW in 2022.

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    Synopsis

    Slutty the Clown (Claire Bacon) is a crazed, sex-obsessed psychopath who wanders the English countryside looking for victims. Two urban explorers, Cheryl Williams (Lauren Annetts) and Mia Rosemary (Eve Bamfield), check out some ruins near where Slutty resides. They stumble across Slutty’s residence during their exploration and proceed to deface it, not knowing who lives there. Naturally, Slutty is none too happy about strangers messing with her things, so she sets her eyes on the girls. After running into her, the girls watch a video from Professor Fellatio (Lloyd Kaufman), explaining who or what Slutty is. They even get a warning from survivalist Sean Voorhees (Ari Lehman) about what Slutty is capable of. Unfortunately, the girls don’t listen to the alarm, and they get captured and tortured by Slutty. Will the girls be able to escape, or will they be the latest victims of Slutty the Clown?

     

    Review

    Once again, I’d like to thank Joe Cash from Screaming Screening for reaching out to me to review his movies. Unfortunately, many of the problems I had with his previous film are here. Like Cash’s last effort, this barely qualifies as a movie since there’s hardly a plot or characters. Sure, things happen, and people are in it, but aside from Slutty, none of the leads even have names. I know I mentioned the other female leads by name, but they never refer to each other as such. Even the synopsis I provided is a series of random events rather than a cohesive plot. I understand that low-budget filmmaking is challenging, but that’s no excuse for whatever dreck this is. Admittedly, I don’t go into a movie called Slutty the Clown expecting Citizen Kane, but I at least expect competency.

    For her part, Claire Bacon seems to be having fun playing the titular character, skipping around with psychotic glee. She seems to be the only one since the two other leads look disinterested and don’t want to be there. Lloyd Kaufman seems confused in his cameo, and Ari Lehman is giving a performance that’s almost too good for this. To call the filmmaking shoddy would be an understatement, as there are times when it’s hard to tell what’s happening. Not only that but there are at least six or seven times where a “Missing Reel” title card pops up. I’m not sure what happened behind the scenes, but they should’ve either reshot the missing scenes or scrapped the footage. The movie is only an hour long, but there are far better ways to kill an hour than watching this. Overall, Slutty the Clown is a waste of time.

     

    Follow Screaming Screening on all of their socials: https://linktr.ee/screamingscreening.

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  • The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

    The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

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    Born Nicolas Kim Coppola in 1964, Nicolas Cage is one of the most iconic actors of the last few decades. After starring in various films in the 1980s, Cage won an Oscar for Best Actor for 1995’s Leaving Las Vegas. The 1990s were a defining point in Cage’s career, appearing in blockbusters like The Rock, Con Air, and Face/Off. Unfortunately, going into the 2000s, Cage’s career took a nosedive as he started taking roles in lesser movies. Due to his extravagant lifestyle, he owed the IRS thousands of dollars and accepted any part he could. In the mid-2000s, Cage was memed for his over-the-top performances in movies like Vampire’s Kiss and The Wicker Man. Around 2018, Cage got a script that he initially turned down because of how it poked fun at his career. However, writer-director Tom Gormican convinced him to star in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

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    Synopsis

    Nicolas Cage has fallen on hard times, struggling to get acting roles and having a strained relationship with his family. After a particularly embarrassing moment at a party for his daughter Addy (Lily Sheen), Cage decides he’s going to retire. That changes when his agent Richard Fink (Neil Patrick Harris) offers him a job: $1 million for a party appearance. Cage agrees and is flown out to Majorca to meet multi-billionaire and massive fan Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal). Though initially annoyed, Cage starts to warm up to Javi, becoming fast friends and bonding over Paddington 2. One night, Cage is abducted by CIA agents Vivian Etten (Tiffany Haddish) and Martin Etten (Ike Barinholtz). They suspect Javi of abducting the daughter of an anti-crime politician and want Cage to investigate. He reluctantly agrees to help, though he soon learns that there’s more at stake than he initially thought.

     

    Review

    First and foremost, I’m a Nicolas Cage fan, and I think he doesn’t get enough credit for his work. To me, he’s one of those actors who can make a good movie great and a bad film watchable. Would anybody remember movies like Deadfall or The Wicker Man if Cage wasn’t in them? Thankfully, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a case where Cage makes a good movie great. This is Nicolas Cage at his best, combining his trademark manic energy with a quiet solemness for the dramatic moments. Pedro Pascal gives a scene-stealing performance as the eccentric Javi, and he has excellent chemistry with Cage. Much of the movie is a buddy movie between Cage and Pascal, and their scenes together are the highlight. After a while, you start rooting for Javi and don’t want to believe he could be the villain.

    The rest of the cast all do a commendable job, Haddish and Barinholtz standing out with their great back-and-forths. Sharon Horgan is terrific as Cage’s ex-wife, trying to keep him grounded as things get more insane. Relative newcomer Lily Sheen stands out as Cage’s daughter, and I’m excited to see what she does later on. What helps the movie is its central message about wanting to stay relevant at the cost of personal matters. Throughout the film, Cage is more concerned with reclaiming his so-called Hollywood superstardom at the expense of his family life. The movie also explores how blind fandom can influence how you perceive your heroes, not realizing they’re also people. Even if you’re not a Nicolas Cage fan, you can still enjoy this as a funny and emotional buddy movie. Overall, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent will undoubtedly be one of the best movies of 2022.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Buy your tickets now to watch “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” playing in theaters starting April 22nd![/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Last Foxtrot in Burbank (1973)

    Last Foxtrot in Burbank (1973)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]After finding success in Italy as a director, Albert Band fell on hard times and moved back to the US. Having grown up in Italy around sets, his son Charles became obsessed with movies and wanted to make his own. Charles had to make a commercial film, and horror was the most profitable genre, so he aimed for that. It was the early 1970s, and, at some point, Band became friends with stand-up comedian Frank Ray Perilli. Perilli suggested that Band should make a spoof of a then-popular movie instead of a horror film. In 1972, Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris hit theaters and was a massive hit despite all the controversies. Perilli convinced Band that they should make a spoof of Bertolucci’s film with actor Michael Pataki doing a Brando impression. So, in 1973, Charles Band’s Last Foxtrot in Burbank made its way onto the big screen.

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    Synopsis

    In the city of Burbank, France, Paul (Michael Pataki) is grieving the loss of his wife by wandering the streets. Elsewhere, a young woman named Jeanne (Sherry Denton) is looking for an apartment to rent and stumbles across Paul. The two start an illicit affair where neither person knows the other one’s name to maintain anonymity. As their relationship grows, Paul is unsure if he wants to keep Jeanne around anymore or continue the romance. It doesn’t help either that Paul feels inadequate in bed as he cannot fully satisfy Jeanne’s desires. It all comes to a head when Paul finds out that Jeanne has been shooting adult films on the side. Distraught over the perceived betrayal, he confronts her, and she responds by shooting him where he stands. It’s a story of love, death, loyalty, and betrayal that permeates throughout the city of Burbank, France.

     

    Review

    Before going any further, I want to point out just how miraculous it is that I can review this movie. After a disastrous release, Charles Band erased Last Foxtrot in Burbank from history and had several prints destroyed. It was only recently that someone from UCLA was able to find the original negative in their film archives. Frequently, movies that are considered lost tend to stay that way and end up never found. Quality aside, I can appreciate that this obscure piece of cinema history has been uncovered and restored. Admittedly, Last Foxtrot in Burbank isn’t some lost gem, and I can see why Band wanted this buried. It’s not as much of a trainwreck as Big Gus, What’s the Fuss?, but it’s still pretty stupid. Then again, Charles Band was in his early 20s, so I didn’t expect much.

    As a Last Tango in Paris spoof, the movie does hit all the major plot points humorously. Michael Pataki makes a decent Marlon Brando impression, though he goes as over the top as possible with his performance. Even though she doesn’t do much besides getting naked for most of her scenes, Sherry Denton is admirable. The rest of the acting is pretty hit or miss, though everyone acts like they know they’re in a comedy. Admittedly, most of the gags fall flat and are outdated, but the movie made me chuckle every so often. There is a gag where they parody the notorious butter scene, which might seem tasteless, but it made me laugh. At slightly over an hour in length, the movie goes by really fast and will kill time quickly. Overall, Last Foxtrot in Burbank isn’t impressive, but movie completionists will enjoy seeing this previously-lost film.

     

    Watch Last Foxtrot in Burbank on Full Moon Features: https://www.fullmoonfeatures.com/videos/last-foxtrot-in-burbank.

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  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

    Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

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    On a budget of $85 million, Sonic the Hedgehog grossed over $300 million worldwide, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing movie of 2020. While it received mixed reviews from critics, hardcore fans and general audiences embraced the blue blur hero’s live-action debut. Following its success, Paramount announced a sequel in May 2020, with many of the original cast and crew returning. Jeff Fowler would be directing alongside returning writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller, with newcomer John Whittington added as co-writer. To expand the Sonic universe further, long-time characters Miles “Tails” Prower and Knuckles the Echidna would be introduced. Jason Momoa was initially in talks to voice Knuckles before the studio announced Idris Elba in August 2021. With a $90 million budget, filming began in Vancouver in March 2021 and concluded in Hawaii in June that year. On April 8, 2022, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 spin dashed its way into theaters.

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    Synopsis

    After the last movie, Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) is stranded on the mushroom planet, searching for a way back home. Sonic (Ben Schwartz) has become a vigilante back on Earth, but he accidentally does more harm than good. His friend Tom (James Marsden) tells him that he will have his day, but he’s still too young. While Tom and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) go to Hawaii for her sister’s wedding, Sonic is left to watch the house. Suddenly, Robotnik arrives with his new ally, Knuckles the Echidna (Idris Elba), who’s searching for the Master Emerald. Before long, Sonic meets Miles “Tails” Prower (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), a two-tailed fox who becomes his new sidekick. Together, they journey to find the Master Emerald before Knuckles and Robotnik, who plans to steal the emerald for himself. It’s a race against time as Sonic and Tails venture forth to prevent Robotnik from obtaining ultimate power.

     

    Review

    The first film was a pleasant surprise when it came out, especially considering what could have been. Going into this, I was excited to see how the filmmakers could expand the story established in the last movie. On the one hand, this movie successfully provides a fun and exciting globe-trotting adventure with Sonic characters. On the other, this film falls into the trap many sequels do: doubling what worked before but making it worse. The Sonic lore is expanded upon further, but it comes at the cost of the human characters being pushed aside. The first film balanced the action sequences with the character development, whereas this film emphasizes the set pieces more. While there are moments of bonding between Sonic and Tom like before, they’re few and far between. Sonic and Tails spend enough time together to justify their friendship in defense of the filmmakers.

    Like the previous film, Ben Schwartz is spot-on as the voice of Sonic and has excellent chemistry with James Marsden. Colleen O’Shaughnessey, who voiced Tails since 2014, does a good job here and works well off Schwartz. Idris Elba is perfect chemistry as the voice of Knuckles, playing the character seriously with no humor. Jim Carrey is entertaining as Dr. Robotnik, though he somehow manages to be more over-the-top than in the previous movie. As mentioned before, this movie emphasizes the action, and the set pieces are thrilling to watch. In particular, the fights between Sonic and Knuckles and the ending fight with Robotnik are the highlight of the movie. Unfortunately, most human scenes go for low-brow comedy, though it’s not as bad as the Michael Bay Transformers movies. Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will not show up on anyone’s Top 10 list, but it’s a decent watch.

     

    Buy Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iQGUZE.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Alien³ (1992)

    Alien³ (1992)

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    On a budget of $18.5 million, Aliens grossed over $183 million worldwide and was the third highest-grossing film of 1986. The film helped put James Cameron on the map and gave Sigourney Weaver her first Oscar nomination. Fox was eager to make another sequel with this success, but production company Brandywine didn’t share the same feelings. Producers David Giler, Walter Hill, and Gordon Carroll wanted to go in a different direction, which Fox agreed with. After rejecting screenplays from William Gibson, Eric Red, and David Twohy, the studio hired Vincent Ward for his unique ideas. Fox initially hired Renny Harlin to direct, but he left when the production was taking too long to get going. Finally, the studio hired David Fincher on the strength of his music video work, but things didn’t get better. After numerous production problems and studio meddling, Alien³ landed in theaters in May 1992.

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    Synopsis

    Due to a fire on the Sulaco, the ship’s computer jettisons the escape pods, crashing on a nearby prison planet. The only survivor of the passengers on board is Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), who the convicts take in. She’s taken care of by prisoner Jonathan Clemens (Charles Dance), who explains her situation and the planet she’s on. Known as Fiorina “Fury” 161, it’s a foundry and maximum-security prison for male inmates convicted of rape and murder. The warden, Harold Andrews (Brian Glover), feels her presence would disrupt the order they’ve established. Meanwhile, a face-hugger from the Sulaco attaches itself to a dog, spawning a quadrupedal xenomorph that runs loose. Soon, the creature starts picking off the prisoners, and Ripley tries telling the warden, but he doesn’t believe her. Since there are no weapons available, Ripley and the prisoners must band together to tackle this alien menace.

     

    Review

    Given how tumultuous the production was and the final product, it’s easy to see why David Fincher has disowned Alien³. As a whole, the movie is a convoluted mess that goes against what the previous film established. Not only are some of the best characters from the last movie killed, but how they die makes no sense. While we see an egg snuck onto the ship, it’s never explained how and why it got there. Admittedly, it does fit the running theme of things getting worse for Ripley, but the filmmakers didn’t handle it properly. Considering his situation, I don’t entirely blame David Fincher for all of the movie’s problems. With this his first feature film, he had the studio breathing down his neck to get it done fast. Despite how much of a mess this movie is, some more positive qualities help elevate it beyond being terrible.

    Along with series veteran Sigourney Weaver, the cast includes Charles S. Dutton, Charles Dance, Paul McGann, and Brian Glover. In particular, Weaver, Dutton, and Dance give some fantastic performances that stand out from the rest of the cast. The production design is impressive, with some giant sets that have a mixture of industrial and gothic. On top of that, the cinematography and color palette adds an almost apocalyptic feeling to the movie. The creature effects from Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. look great, but the digital work sticks out badly. Elliot Goldenthal’s haunting score further adds to the sense of isolation and despair that permeates the film beautifully. While this entry does pale compared to the previous two films, it doesn’t entirely warrant its poor reputation. Overall, Alien³ had some good ideas but ultimately serves as a lesson for how not to handle a massive production.

     

    Buy Alien³ from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EUjy22.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Alien³ (1992)

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  • Forbidden World (1982)

    Forbidden World (1982)

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    After graduating from the American Film Institute, Allan Holzman got a job as an editor for New World Pictures. Working with B-movie kingpin Roger Corman, Holzman edited Candy Stripe Nurses, Crazy Mama, and Checkered Flag or Crash. Holzman wanted to direct despite having a terrible stutter, and he managed to convince Corman to give him a shot. Corman originally suggested making Lawrence of Arabia in space but instead asked Holzman to rip off Alien to save money. Galaxy of Terror had finished shooting, and Corman was impressed with the set, so he kept it for this project. Holzman hired his girlfriend Susan Justin for the soundtrack, and future Charles Band regular John Carl Buechler handled the effects. The film was originally going to be called Mutant, but Corman decided to change the title at the last minute. Finally, the movie hit theaters in May 1982 as Forbidden World.

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    Synopsis

    While drifting through space, Officer Mike Colby (Jesse Vint) learns of a new assignment from his robot SAM-104 (Don Olivera). Their mission is to investigate a research facility in Xarbia, where an experimental lifeform got loose and attacked the staff. Colby meets the survivors, including research head Gordon Hauser (Linden Chiles) and his assistant Barbara Glaser (June Chadwick). The creature wrapped itself in a cocoon after killing some of the research team, so Colby wants to kill it. However, Hauser tells him not to terminate the creature and remains secretive about what happened, much to everyone’s dismay. One day, lab technician Jimmy Swift (Michael Bowen) gets killed by the beast, and it sabotages their communication equipment. As more people get picked off, Colby learns more about the experiment and its method of consuming people. With the body count rising, who will be able to survive this forbidden world?

     

    Review

    Compared to Corman’s other space movies around this time, Forbidden World is one of the oddest. The tone is all over the place, where sometimes it feels intentionally funny and other times unintentionally amusing. Granted, this is partly due to Corman not being happy with the more comedic moments and having those trimmed out. While the direction is relatively basic, Holzman keeps the pacing tight and shows plenty of potential for a first-time director. Jesse Vint is decent as the smooth leading man, bedding both women and creating a love triangle. June Chadwick and Dawn Dunlap are knock-outs who bare it all on more than one occasion. Character actor Fox Harris hams it up as the eccentric Dr. Cal Timbergen, who ends up helping defeat the monster. Linden Chiles comes off a bit wooden, but he makes for a good foil for Vint.

    Susan Justin’s score helps this movie stand out, adding an off-kilter, punk rock vibe to the proceedings. Admittedly, it can be slightly overbearing at times, but it’s weird enough to stick with you after the movie. The creature’s design is relatively basic, but it works in its simplicity, essentially looking like a giant slug with teeth. In addition to Buechler, effects artist Mark Shostrom (The Beastmaster, Evil Dead 2, From Beyond) contributed to the film. They manage to create some gruesome set pieces, such as the creature’s death and the crew being half dissolved. At 77 minutes long, the movie goes by quickly, though there’s some padding to get it to feature-length. While it’s the least well-known of Corman’s space movies, it’s still a fun watch for genre enthusiasts. Overall, Forbidden World is a sleazy rip-off of a better film, but that makes it more enjoyable.

     

    Buy Forbidden World from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ELmLRb.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Squeeze Play (1979)

    Squeeze Play (1979)

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    After the disastrous release of Big Gus, What’s the Fuss?, Lloyd Kaufman was in a tight jam. With his business partner Michael Herz, Lloyd founded Troma Entertainment in 1974, where they could produce their movies. Around this time, Kaufman directed a series of adult films under the pseudonyms H.V. Spyder, Louis Su, and David Stitt. In the 70s, the industry took celluloid sex seriously, and mixing sex with other genres was unheard of. With this in mind, Kaufman and Herz thought it would be a good idea to make a sex comedy film. The Women’s Liberation Movement was in full swing, so Kaufman and Herz decided to incorporate that into their movie. Lloyd’s brother Charles worked with screenwriter Haim Pekelis to churn out a 75-page script while Lloyd accumulated a $300,000 budget. While the film premiered in New York in 1979, Squeeze Play wouldn’t be released nationwide until 1980.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”50″ bar_bg_color=”#E09900″ _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Wes (Jim Harris) is captain of the local men’s softball team, The Beavers, and is the talk of the town. However, his fiance, Samantha (Jennifer Hetrick), isn’t happy about how he spends more time with the guys than her. She wants him to quit softball next year so he can spend more time with her, but he’s reluctant. Soon, the girlfriends and wives of the other team members share the same sentiment as Samantha and have had it. One night, the girls meet runaway Mary Lou (Melissa Michaels), who has a wicked throwing arm and can play softball. Suddenly, Samantha gets an idea: she and the girls will form their softball team to teach the boys a lesson. Naturally, the guys don’t take them seriously, so the girls train hard and start getting good. Who will win this epic battle of the sexes, and who will make the squeeze play?

     

    Review

    While not as good as comedies like Animal House or Meatballs, Squeeze Play is still an enjoyably silly sex comedy. Admittedly, most of the movie’s humor is dated and relies heavily on slapstick, but plenty of the gags do land. The most famous joke in the film is when a player catches the ball between his buttcheeks. Aside from the dumb jokes, the plot is an excuse to add double entendres and get women naked. This movie is from a bygone era where a Wet T-Shirt Contest, gender stereotypes, and politically incorrect humor were acceptable. The pro-women message, though it lacks subtlety, is weirdly relevant even today and helps it stand out. While it’s easy to hate the men for being gross and rude, the women make plenty of mistakes. It’s interesting how a 70s sex comedy depicted feminism better than today’s crop of movies.

    The cast, mainly made up of relatively unknown actors, does their jobs well and plays into the comedy. There are some notable cast members, including Jennifer Hetrick from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Al Corley from Dynasty. The most memorable actor here is Mike Starr, who later starred in Uncle Buck, Ed Wood, and Dumb and Dumber. Admittedly, the movie does follow plenty of sports movie tropes, but this was well before those tropes became a thing. As with every sports movie, everything culminates in a final game, though this one has some nudity. At slightly over 90 minutes long, it won’t take up too much of your time and goes by fast. Diehard Troma fans might get a kick out of this, but general audiences will probably dismiss this. Overall, Squeeze Play is a product of its time, for better or for worse, though it has its moments.

     

    Buy Squeeze Play from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EuFmB1.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Puppet Master: The Legacy (2003)

    Puppet Master: The Legacy (2003)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Due to financial problems, Charles Band temporarily shut down Full Moon Features in 2002 and rebranded as Shadow Entertainment. Having made a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Home Video, Band tried staying afloat despite the market dying out. Thankfully, he still held the rights to the Puppet Master series, but he had to make sense of the continuity. Much like the Friday the 13th series, the timeline of the movies was all over the place and became confusing. He brought back C. Courtney Joyner, writer of Puppet Master III, to pen a script for a soft reset. Joyner used the pseudonym Gene Yarbrough, while Band went by his Head of the Family credit, Robert Talbot. Fans would have to wait four years for this entry, and what they got was a huge disappointment. In 2003, Puppet Master: The Legacy hit video store shelves across the country.

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    Synopsis

    Rogue agent Maclain (Kate Orsini) searches for André Toulon’s secret of resurrecting the dead for a mysterious client. Her search takes her to the Bodega Bay Inn, where she finds Eric Weiss (Jacob Witkin) working on the puppets. It turns out that Weiss knew Toulon before his death and swore never to reveal his secrets. When Maclain threatens his life, Weiss plays a recording left by Toulon explaining how he acquired the magic. Some stock footage later, Weiss reveals that his real name is Peter Hertz, the boy Toulon saved from Nazi Germany. The two begin arguing over whether Toulon was good or evil and whether the puppets justified their killings. Maclain soon learns more than she ever expected, including the war with Sutek and how Toulon’s secrets keep getting discovered. Soon enough, they’ll find just what kind of a legacy has been left by the Puppet Master.

     

    Review

    Admittedly, Full Moon Features was never going to produce a film that would get an Oscar nomination, let alone win. They always maintained at least some level of quality and were generally fun B-movies that knew what they were. With Puppet Master: The Legacy, the company has hit an all-time low for the franchise and Full Moon themselves. At 80 minutes in length, about 15 minutes is original footage, with the remaining 65 being stock footage. It’s on par with Silent Night Deadly Night 2‘s use of stock footage, but at least that was more even. With Legacy, there will be two minutes of original footage followed by ten minutes of clips from the other movies. It feels less like a full-length feature, and more a glorified clip show trying to pass off as a movie. I understand why they did it, but that doesn’t make it less lazy.

    To give them some credit, the filmmakers tried to make sense of the series’ continuity being all over the place. Unfortunately, they leave you with more questions than answers and make the timeline even more confusing. For instance, Rick Meyers, the lead from Puppet Master 4, was killed off-screen after the events of Puppet Master 5. Also, we learn that the puppets hired Maclain to kill Weiss, the new puppet master, which raises tons of questions. If that was their endgame, why didn’t the puppets kill Weiss themselves when they had the chance? Also, how were the puppets able to talk to Maclain when none of them had voices? After the ending, there’s a message thanking all the people who worked over the years on this franchise. Overall, they may have had good intentions, but Puppet Master: The Legacy feels like desperation more than a celebration.

     

    Buy Puppet Master: The Legacy from:

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. (1981)

    Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. (1981)

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    Some of the most prominent actors working today often get their start in low-budget films, though they often regret this. There’s Demi Moore in Parasite 3D, Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun, and Nicole Kidman in BMX Bandits, to name a few. Then there’s Kevin Costner, who was a stagehand before getting his big break in The Untouchables and No Way Out. While working behind the scenes, Costner would pass by the office of producer Eric Louzil and ask for acting roles. Louzil had a project in line with first-time director Richard Brander, so he offered Costner a minor part. Admittedly, Louzil hired Costner more for his looks than his acting abilities, not to mention he was awkward. The movie was filmed during the winter of 1978-79 and initially released in 1981 as Malibu Hot Summer. In 1986, Troma acquired the rights and re-released the film as Sizzle Beach, U.S.A.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”40″ bar_bg_color=”#E09900″ _builder_version=”4.16.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Best friends Janice Johnston (Terry Congie), Dit McCoy (Lesley Brander), and Cheryl Reilly (Roselyn Royce) move out to California. Dit wants to be a famous singer, Cheryl gets a job as a physical education teacher, and Janice takes acting lessons. They decide to rent a beach house and Malibu and plan to try and live out their dreams. Janice falls in love with ranch hand John Logan (Kevin Costner), who teaches her horseback riding in between her classes. Dit gets a spot in a singing competition through a friend but soon discovers how sleazy the manager is. Also, Cheryl gets scolded by her supervisor at the school for supposedly having an insatiable libido. The three grow as friends, learn lessons along the way, and meet the loves of their lives. All of this is mixed in with plenty of TNA to distract you from how dull the plot is.

     

    Review

    Going into Sizzle Beach, U.S.A., I expected it to be one of those zany sex comedies from the early 1980s. Instead, you get a bland drama about three women, their friendship, and their dreams mixed with some nudity. After a while, the nudity starts losing its appeal and becomes annoying, like you’re praying they keep their clothes on. At least the three lead women look good naked, but that’s not enough to compensate for a dull movie. Congie, Brander, and Reilly have decent chemistry together, but there’s nothing to their characters to make us care. It’s not a shock that of the three, only one has more than two acting credits to their name. I’d comment on the rest of the cast, but they’re so forgettable that it’s not worth it. Then, of course, there’s the person we’re all here to see: Kevin Costner.

    After hearing Louzil say he hired Costner for his looks, it makes sense given his performance or lack thereof. Costner sounds stiff and wooden, and he looks awkward and uncomfortable as if he doesn’t know what to do. Supposedly, he was most uncomfortable shooting a love scene without clothes on, and you can tell when you see it. While he’s never been great, you’d never guess that Costner would become the superstar he is today seeing this. Usually, I scoff at actors denying or feeling embarrassed by their past work, but in this case, I get it. Even with the rampant nudity, this is such a dull and uninteresting movie that you’ll forget about it fast. Even at 90 minutes long, you could do much better than this, even if you want cheap TNA. Overall, Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. might be worth it for Costner completionists, but it’s otherwise best avoided.

     

    Buy Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uZxKCg.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. (1981)

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