There are so many films that I saw as a child that I can still watch to this day and enjoy, but occasionally I find one that I watched quite a bit as a child and I watch it now and it simply does not hold up. The film we have here today is one that did not hold up well over time for me. I used to have some of the cards when I was a kid and even bought a bunch of them when they came back out a few years back also I do remember them releasing a very short lived cartoon based on these obscene cabbage patch dolls. I do have liking for this film still, but for different reasons nowadays. Let's take off the rose tinted glasses and dive into this autopsy!
This film follows a young boy named Dodger who while at a local antique shop accidentally knocks over a sealed garbage pail. What is unleashed from this once seemingly innocent looking trash can is an disgusting and bizarre group of kids. Dodger takes a liking to them and the Kids team up with him to take on this psychotic group of teens (actors that look like there in their mid 20's). Before they can do that Dodger will have to save his obscene friends from the State Home for the Ugly!
Let me start off by saying that this film to me does land in the "so bad it's good" category, now I do not really like using that label, but it's the easiest way for someone to know what to expect nowadays. When I was a kid this film seemed not quite as bizarre as when I now view it as an adult. It has a very oddball cast of characters that reflect the cards their based off quite well. There is also a psycho group of teens that I remember as a kid thinking they were like any other gang of teens. Now watching it I realize that they are much worse and even homicidal. This film is like something to come from Troma, but played off as a kids film. I like this film now as a very odd and unique film experience that is like going to the most bizarre backwoods side show.
The characters in this film are not very likable and really are quite bad people. The only exception to this is Dodger and the owner of the antique store. I guess I can add the Kids to the list because they do help him out and do have good intentions. I an a way this film kinda has the unintentional message of that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Suprizingly the most fucked up part about this film was a scene where the group of teens beat up Dodger and leave him to drown in the sewer. Those teens are seriously fucked in the head.
Only thing that sticks out like sore thumb and brings this film down some is the sadly done animatronic heads that the actors wear. They look cheap and have very stiff movements when they talk or make facial gestures. Knowing now that they had financial problems with the film I can see that they did the best they could with what they had to work with. I can very much see what the director, cast, and crew were going for and I admire how hard they worked on it. I think this film would of worked better though as a much darker film or better written comedy with a bigger budget. Overall if you want to watch a film that is not really like any other than I suggest you pick this one up. It just odd enough to make it the cult classic that it is. Also this is the best I have ever seen this film look and it's about time it came with some special features.
-Daniel Lee
Director: Rod Amateau
Lead Actor/Actress: Mackenzie Astin
Genre: Comedy/Family
Blu-ray Release Year: 2015
Theatrical Release Year: 1987
Time Length: 97 mins.
Rating: PG
Region Code: A
Release Company: Shout! Factory
Website:
www.shoutfactory.com
There are so many films that I saw as a child that I can still watch to this day and enjoy, but occasionally I find one that I watched quite a bit as a child and I watch it now and it simply does not hold up. The film we have here today is one that did not hold up well over time for me. I used to have some of the cards when I was a kid and even bought a bunch of them when they came back out a few years back also I do remember them releasing a very short lived cartoon based on these obscene cabbage patch dolls. I do have liking for this film still, but for different reasons nowadays. Let's take off the rose tinted glasses and dive into this autopsy!
