u/No-Chemistry-28

I’m obsessed with this movie. I had never heard of the lead actress, Mimi Lesseos, but a quick use of the Google tells me she is a former professional wrestler-turned-actress, which makes total sense, because even though there are multiple scenes of her kicking people’s asses in this, I still have no clue if she can actually fight. It doesn’t matter though, because this is just some next-level silliness. She starts off beating up some dudes who barely fight back, then, if you’re worried she doesn’t become a nature tour guide in the very next scene apropos of nothing, you’re safe—that’s exactly what happens. Surely the wilderness hiking trail won’t have any baddies waiting to put the hurt on these people, right? WRONG. Good thing their tour guide is a badass, though. This had me cracking up constantly, and I need you guys to watch it. Trailer below.

I think this is the movie that held up the least for me upon rewatching. People love this one, and I thought I understood why at first, but the second time I saw it, I felt very different. The acting is terrible, the plot is absurd, it’s low-budget as fuck (which isn’t inherently negative, but it *feels* low-budget), and I have another complaint, but it’s a spoiler. Like I said though, people seem to really enjoy this, so I’m the outlier here. That’s why I’m recommending it—not because I like it, but because you probably will. It is a movie that unravels, and even though I think the twist is ridiculous, it’s still not my place to spoil anything. Give it a shot; it’s a quick 87 minutes, and I’ll give it credit for being unique. Trailer below.

Some weeks, I struggle to find fun-bad movies for you folks. I feel like a bad dad. Not this week, though. This week, I’m thrilled with the things I’ve found. This one is very unintentionally hilarious. It bills itself as a comedy/parody, but I think it’s a comedy in the same way that a person might be telling bad jokes, and the audience is laughing—not at the jokes, but at the fact that the person has unknowingly shat themselves. It’s winking at the camera, but doesn’t know how to wink. I was really amused by the dialogue and general nonsense this movie provided from moment one. Also, a lot of the trivia for this consists of the filmmakers wanting to make sure you get their clever title. He’s “made” in Chinatown—like how someone in the mafia can become a “made man”, and also a play on “made in China”. Get it??? GET IT???? Trailer below.

I got into comics late. They weren’t really on my radar as a kid because I didn’t have anywhere near me that carried them—otherwise, I have to believe I would have been obsessed. It wasn’t until my 30s when I started diving in, and I was immediately hooked. They combine great stories and ideas with interesting artwork while letting the reader fill in some gaps. I’ve always gravitated towards “underground” or lesser-known art scenes, and I actually saw this documentary about 5-6 years prior, so I had some knowledge and interest in Robert Crumb and the alt/underground/“comix” scene already. What a goddamn strange documentary this is. It can be summed up by saying “you really don’t understand what goes on in other people’s homes”. Check the content warnings on this (mostly sexual talk/images, but also serious mental health stuff), but this is a fascinating watch, and gives insight into a legendary—albeit flawed—individual within the alt comix scene. Trailer below.

I have an odd relationship with this movie in present-day. On one hand, it’s incredibly dated, racist, misogynistic, exploitative, trashy, and offensive, and had I seen it more recently, it would not even be in this discussion at all. On the other hand, this movie was the centerpiece of what was a summertime Encore Channel lineup that, for me, was a formative part of my journey with film, and is a huge reason why I sought out other B-movies/cult classics. The film is a collection of sketches that range from ridiculously funny to straight up problematic and horrible. I can’t imagine seeing this with fresh eyes in today’s world for the first time, and it in now way is any indicator of the things I support or believe in, but it is an interesting piece of trashy pop culture history that may have its only modern equivalent in something like Movie 43 (which I have never seen). I can’t really even say this is a recommendation. It’s an acknowledgment, maybe? Trailer below, film at 11.

Nickelodeon is such a formative part of my identity that I truly do not know who I would be without it. The first thing I ever saw on Nickelodeon was Rugrats. Part of the original run of 90s “Nicktoons” (along with Doug and Ren & Stimpy), Rugrats was—and still is—accessible, entertaining, funny, and enjoyable for both kids and adults. We follow the adventures of Tommy Pickles, a baby, and his friends/relatives, as they navigate life. This film starts right after the events of a very important episode of the show, when Tommy’s baby brother, Dil, is born. This movie is not perfect, and honestly, it marked the point where I started losing interest in the show, but it’s a necessary part of the continuing story. I was also 10 when this came out, so maybe it was just me growing up. At any rate, I still have a great fondness every time I see Rugrats pop up, and it’s that feeling that I want to share. Trailer below.

Holy shit. Big, dumb CGI-snake movies are dime a dozen on Tubi, but this one may take the cake. This was truly insanely bad in a way that was delightful to experience. Then I’m looking at the IMDb page, and not only is the trivia hilarious, but A.) This was released by Columbia TriStar? Someone for sure got in trouble there. Then, B.) The budget is estimated at $1.2 million?? In what world could that be even remotely true??? The airplanes are CGI!!! Also, C.) There are three credited writers on this. THREE. What must that process have been like??? If you enjoy movies that would be even too ridiculous for the SyFy Channel, then this is the gold standard. Trailer below.

I’ve told this story on here before, but I have a fond memory of this movie because it’s the only movie I ever snuck into, and by “snuck into”, I mean mom and I snuck in—my mom, who is a churchgoing person who didn’t even swear in front of me until I was 18 and still makes a big deal about doing it 20 years later, saw that there were 3-4 people in line at the ticket booth, and impulsively said, “Come on,” pulling me into the side door. Awesome. Anyway, this movie is an offbeat comedy that is full of what we now call “nepo babies”—the underrated Schuyler Fisk (daughter of Sissy Spacek and production designer Jack Fisk), Colin Hanks (the “good” son of Tom Hanks—see: Chet), and directed by Jake Kasden (son of legendary writer and director Lawrence Kasden). Plus, Jack Black, the late, great Catherine O’Hara, John Lithgow, Lily Tomlin, and Mike White (who also wrote the film). All of that to say, watch this. It’s got a very specific tone that I can’t quite put my finger on, but I don’t know another movie like it. Trailer below.