Alex Winter plays Ricky Coogan, a snobby full of himself actor who agrees to be a spokesman for a risky illegal drug. He,his friend, and a bitchy activist decide to go to a freak show on a spur of the moment. But the owner has more evil plans in store, so he takes them out back and turns them into mutants who he'll add to his collection and make perform in his freak shows. It's up to him and the other freaks that he befriends to rise up.
Once the psychedelic credit sequence started playing accompanied with a cool Henry Rollins tune, I knew I was onto something good, I just didn't know how great what followed would be. You'll KNOW if you're gonna love this film or hate it within the first 10 minutes. I reside firmly in the love it group. This film will never win an Oscar or any other "prestigise" award. It will never be on any critic's top ten list. But if you have an off-kilter sense of humor, you will, like I, adore this film. How can you go wrong with great roles by Mr. T as a bearded lady, Bobcat Goldthwait at the height of his career as a guy with a sock for a head, or Rastafarian eyeball? And while a few of the jokes misfire and the ending does seem to lose steam, when the film is on, i'ts REALLY on.
My Grade: B
2-disc DVD Extras: Disc 1) Commentary with co-writers/co-directors Tom Stern and Alex Winter; behind the scenes feaurette; A Conversation with Writer Tim Burns; 2 Deleted Scenes (unlike most deleted scenes THESE are good, I just wish there were more); Art Gallery; Theatrical Trailer; and Trailers for "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry", "Modern Problems" and "License to Drive" Disc 2) the 84 minute Rehearsal Version; script readings; backstage footage; construction of Freak Land; makeup footage; and 2 short films by Tom Stern and Alex Winter ("Squeal of Death" & "NYU Sight & Sound Project")
DVD Rom: Screenplay in .Pdf format 1 Easter Egg: click on the round picture above the Extras banner for Tim Burns telling of his favorite lines
Once the psychedelic credit sequence started playing accompanied with a cool Henry Rollins tune, I knew I was onto something good, I just didn't know how great what followed would be. You'll KNOW if you're gonna love this film or hate it within the first 10 minutes. I reside firmly in the love it group. This film will never win an Oscar or any other "prestigise" award. It will never be on any critic's top ten list. But if you have an off-kilter sense of humor, you will, like I, adore this film. How can you go wrong with great roles by Mr. T as a bearded lady, Bobcat Goldthwait at the height of his career as a guy with a sock for a head, or Rastafarian eyeball? And while a few of the jokes misfire and the ending does seem to lose steam, when the film is on, i'ts REALLY on.
My Grade: B
2-disc DVD Extras: Disc 1) Commentary with co-writers/co-directors Tom Stern and Alex Winter; behind the scenes feaurette; A Conversation with Writer Tim Burns; 2 Deleted Scenes (unlike most deleted scenes THESE are good, I just wish there were more); Art Gallery; Theatrical Trailer; and Trailers for "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry", "Modern Problems" and "License to Drive" Disc 2) the 84 minute Rehearsal Version; script readings; backstage footage; construction of Freak Land; makeup footage; and 2 short films by Tom Stern and Alex Winter ("Squeal of Death" & "NYU Sight & Sound Project")
DVD Rom: Screenplay in .Pdf format 1 Easter Egg: click on the round picture above the Extras banner for Tim Burns telling of his favorite lines