July 26 1996
TV Sci-Fi Concept Blows Up in More Ways than One
Rob Salem, Toronto Star
Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Movie AA
Starring Michael J. Nelson, Trace Beaulieu and Kevin Murphy, screenplay by Jim Mallon, Michael J. Nelson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy, Mary Jo Pehl, Paul Chaplin and Bridget Jones, directed by Jim Mallon. At the Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor St. W., 532-6677).
This may take a bit of explaining.
Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Movie is based on Mystery Science Theatre 3000, the TV series, which we do not get here in Canada.
MST3K, as it is known to its legions of U.S. fans, was an original hit on the American cable channel Comedy Central, until it was abruptly cancelled - oddly enough, just as this movie version was about to be released. The show was picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel.
With me so far? Okay. The show takes cheesy genre B- movies and adds a running wisecrack commentary by a lonely space cadet (Michael J. Nelson) and his two robot buddies, seen in silhouette at the bottom of the screen.
It's like inviting some motormouth buddies over to watch the Late, Late, Late Movie. Or, if you prefer, Rick Green's old TVO show, Prisoners Of Gravity, married to Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark (well, I'm sure Rick would prefer it, anyway).
The concept works wonderfully well - on television. Blowing it up to the big screen kinda defeats the purpose.
As does the featured film, 1954's This Island Earth, which isn't quite bad enough to support long-form spoofing - despite the estimable presence of Gilligan's Island survivor Russell ``The Professor'' Johnson.