If you haven't met the Feebles yet, don't bother! MEET THE FEEBLES is director Peter Jacksons 2nd feature film, his follow-up to BAD TASTE. I had never seen this movie before, which might be the reason I didn't like it. Maybe if I saw it when it first came out over (20 years ago!), I might have enjoyed it more. Before we go any farther, here is the basic plot from imdb.com:Heidi, the star of the "Meet The Feebles Variety Hour" discovers her lover Bletch, The Walrus, is cheating on her, and with all the world waiting for the show the assorted co-stars must contend with their own problems. These include drug addiction, extortion, robbery, disease, Drug dealing, and even murder. While this is happening the love between two of the stars is threatened by the devious Trevor the Rat, who wishes to exploit the young starlet for use in his porno movie business.
I had heard many things through the years about this film, from the violence, drug use, and even puppet sex, but nothing was really that shocking in this film at all. The thought of puppets doing this hanous acts might have been shocking 20 years ago, but today there is nothing fresh or new about it. After seeing shows such as WONDER SHOWZEN, CRANK YANKERS, and TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE, we have all seen worse behaviour from puppets than Peter Jackson's Feebles could ever show us. So, if you take away the shock factor (which I expect is the only thing that really made this movie so popular and worth talking about when it came out), then you are a left with nothing more than a movie that is not shocking, not funny, and just not good. I know some people might disagree with me, but I bet those that really like this film are those that saw it years ago...back when they could be shocked by the behavior of these puppets, therefore giving them something to like about the film. Also, being from Peter Jackson, I expected a more Horror aspect to the film, which as it turned out was actually very minimal.
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for MEET THE FEEBLES
I crave for Jackson to do a Brain Dead/Bad Taste style film again.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone in being disappointed with early Peter Jackson, I wasn't at all impressed with Bad Taste which I found boring as hell and amateurish. But it did show he was inventive, and it did show promise. I haven't seen this one, but Im not dying to either. Maybe one day out of curiosity.
ReplyDeleteI think it didn't help that the first movie of Peter Jackson's I ever saw was Braindead (aka. Dead Alive). That movie was brilliant and I think it ruined his earlier films for me upon going back and viewing those. I was very disappointed with Bad Taste as well.
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