Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)

Mike Nelson, Tom Servo, and Crow T. Robot bring their cable-TV 
shtick to the big screen in MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: THE 
MOVIE, though with a substantially less-awful target to take aim 
at.  The three, who sit silhouetted at the bottom of the frame, 
wisecrack their way through the cheesy 1955 classic THIS ISLAND 
EARTH.  From sitcoms to "Star Trek" to DR. STRANGELOVE, their  
comments come from every corner of the pop-culture spectrum.  More 
gags fail than fly, sure, but they all contribute to an atmosphere 
of mirth and merriment that lasts the duration of the film.  You'll 
laugh; you'll howl.  (Unfortunately, the other sequences-- those 
set in the dog bone-shaped space station, where the characters 
live, breathe, and watch movies-- are cheap-looking and largely 
unfunny.)  The best part of MST3K: THE MOVIE is that the humor 
lacks either a mean-spirited or condescending edge.  The writers 
don't attempt to outsmart the viewer; instead, they invite us to 
laugh along with them.  They know, as we do, that bad movies are 
best heckled at.  (Rated "PG-13"/74 min.)

Grade: B


Copyright 1996 by Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: May 12, 1996