Wrongfully Accused (1998)

Leslie Nielsen is the Lord of the Violin, aka Ryan Harrison, on the run from the law after being wrongfully accused of murder in this parody on The Fugitive, which also lampoons everything from Mission: Impossible, The Usual Suspects, North by Northwest, Braveheart, Titanic and even Baywatch. At a certain point, these movies just become about cramming in as many references as possible, which isn't funny in of itself; it's only when finding subversive ways around it that the humor really lands. Like with Spy Hard, this is pretty dumb common denominator stuff, and you have to be attuned to this kind of humor, although it pales in comparison to the great spoofs of years past. But Nielsen is having fun with it and that type of silliness is contagious under the right conditions.

There are plenty more parodies to go, but I'm too spoofed out at the moment.

2½ one-armed, one-eyed, one-legged men out of 5

Mafia! (1998)

AKA: Jane Austen's Mafia!

The Godfather films were ripe for parody, and there was none better to come along and skewer it than Jim Abrahams (of ZAZ), in what would become his final film. Weaving The Godfather Part II and Casino into its pastiche, the plot is little more than skin deep...but it's funny, god damn it. Severely underrated and overlooked at the time of its release for seeming stale and outdated, and yet, everything is relative; after watching a string of bad spoof films, this sticks out like a diamond in shit. And yes, it's still better than The Godfather Part III.

3 wishes on a falling star out of 5

Plump Fiction (1997)

A satire of the '90s indie film scene, particularly those convoluted plots that adorned such ultra-violent thrillers as Pulp Fiction, Natural Born Killers and Reservoir Dogs; while also skewering everything from Sling Blade to Clerks to Nell. It's not funny enough just to make tongue-in-cheek references to other films, although it's fun to revisit them if you're familiar with this time period. I'm being generous with my rating because I enjoy the films represented and I find it an interesting snapshot of film history. This is still better than the 2000s trend of spoof comedy which would soon dilute and overwhelm the genre.

It was produced by Rhino Records, so if nothing else, the music is good.

1½ Priscilla, Queen of the Desserts out of 5

Spy Hard (1996)

A spoof of the spy genre (particularly James Bond/007), which also jam-packs other popular films of the time, like Speed, Sister Act, Home Alone, Rambo, etc. Leslie Nielsen portrays Special Agent Dick Steele, aka WD-40, while Nicollette Sheridan does a serviceable job as second banana Agent 3.14. Directed by Rick Friedberg, and written by nepo baby Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer, who are credited with the demise of the spoof genre and gave them a bad name during the 2000s stretch of parody films. The movie was famously meddled with by Disney, who dumbed it down for audiences to try and (poorly) imitate the ZAZ style and hacked it apart by about 20 minutes. The latter half suffers for it and we're denied a proper denouement, but you can tell the potential is there and there are a lot of fun visual gags that are still memorable to me 30 years later. As usual, Nielsen carries the entire thing on his shoulders. I still enjoy it more than all the other films Friedberg & Seltzer became associated with later on.

2½ unlucky joggers out of 5

High School High (1996)

If you're not in the right frame of mind for these types of comedies, they can get pretty exhausting after about five minutes. That might be part of the reason this movie never grew on me over the years. A professor is demoted from an esteemed college to an urban high school where he gets even less respect, and has to turn around and inspire the young minds. Jon Lovitz heads this spoof on Blackboard Jungle, Dangerous Minds, Stand and Deliver, Lean on Me and other "inner city" movies featuring disillusioned youth. I've always felt that Lovitz was an underrated actor and Tia Carrere has always been severely underutilized, so this has its charms, but it's not without its faults. Sadly, the satire factor is lacking, and it becomes the very thing it's trying to skewer.

2 nails on a chalkboard out of 5

The Silence of the Hams (1994)

AKA: Il silenzio dei prosciutti

This spoof on psychological thrillers (most notably The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho) is helmed by Italian comedian Ezio Greggio, who portrays rookie detective Jo Dee Fostar, while the main highlight is Dom DeLuise as convicted murderer Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza. Like many lesser parody films, it employs the "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" approach, which can be fun in small doses, but it's not one of the more memorable spoofs of the '90s.

2 iggy-boos out of 5

Fatal Instinct (1993)

Carl Reiner's pastiche of 1940s film noir and the erotic thriller genre smashes together spoofs of Double Indemnity, Body Heat, Cape Fear, Sleeping with the Enemy, Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. A lot of the reason this works for me is because Armand Assante completely commits to the bit as a completely oblivious buffoon (he plays both a cop and a lawyer here). As with all parodies, it's exhausting if you're not in a receptive mood, but at just under 90 minutes, these films tend not to overstay their welcome. While some of the gags are hysterical, it seems to work better in smaller doses, and it's a bit uneven as a whole. This type of genre has to take big swings, even when it's batting 1 for 2.

2½ traumatized skunks out of 5

Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)

AKA: National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1

Emilio Estevez and Samuel L. Jackson team up in this spoof of the buddy cop genre that takes aim at Lethal Weapon and 48 Hrs, as well as Basic Instinct, Silence of the Lambs, Die Hard, Wayne's World and other hit films of the day.

I always found it amusing that Emilio did this while his brother Charlie was dicking around with Hot Shots!, but he capably takes up the comedy mantle. As always, you have to be in the right mood for this kind of silly humor, but if you're in particular playful spirits, this stuff hits hard. Conversely, if you're in ill spirits, this could just as easily be described as exhausting and boorish.

Chock-full of so many B-list cameos, I couldn't even fit them all in the tags.

3 gratuitous beaver shots out of 5

Note: Despite the number in the title, they never made a sequel.

Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)

Inexplicably changing gears from Top Gun to an all-out assault on Rambo, we trade the military air base for the jungles of Iraq (?), where Topper (Sheen) is lured out of retirement in order to infiltrate a POW camp. It takes great care to lampoon other hits of the zeitgeist, such as Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, Basic Instinct and Terminator 2. Some of the novelty may have worn off by this point, but this is still an above average, top notch spoof comedy. Featuring unapologetically sophomoric, lowbrow humor, you either love it or hate it.

3½ Geronimos out of 5

Hot Shots! (1991)

Director Jim Abrahams launches a full-scale barrage on Top Gun and other popular films of the era in another high benchmark of the spoof comedy genre. Firing on all cylinders, this is in some ways even funnier and more relentless than Airplane! and The Naked Gun. Charlie Sheen and Lloyd Bridges understood the assignment and completely lean into the buffoonery. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think there may be TOO many jokes; but when the hit rate is this high, you can't really complain. At a breezy 82 minutes, you can watch this movie over and over again, and notice new gags each time. You can't take any part of this film seriously, and that's perfectly fine with me.

4½ Bogies out of 5

The Naked Gun (2025)

Son of a gun. 31 years later, this series gets resuscitated by Seth MacFarlane and The Lonely Island's Akiva Schaffer, with Liam Neeson playing the part of Frank Drebin Jr. (no doubt cast because he was listed next alphabetically). Similar to Leslie Nielsen's turn in Airplane!, Liam Neeson gets to show off his comedy chops, and if there's one person who could nail the Priscilla Presley role, it's Pamela Anderson. It's a loving homage in the best possible sense, and while it doesn't come close to the original, the scattershot approach hits its target quite a few times. It works best with a receptive crowd, and it's dense enough that you can rewatch it and pick up on different gags. It's undeniably dumb, but kind of refreshing to see this lost style of comedy back in 2025.

3 unlikely threesomes out of 5

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)

Frank Drebin is retiring from Police Squad and planning to start a family with Jane. Directed by first-time director Peter Segal, it lacks the same finesse and tightening of jokes that David Zucker brought to it, despite penning the script. There is a delicate balance to this art of smart/dumb comedy which can be ruined if it leans too heavily to one side or acknowledges its own absurdity. Some of these chords are hit a little too hard and lacks more of the "subtlety" found in the previous entries. This is one of those films I always like better in retrospect, even though it never quite lives up to my memory of it.

2¾ specimen cups out of 5

Note: "Fun" bit of trivia: O.J. Simpson was arrested on murder charges three months after the release of this film. This certainly exists as a time capsule.

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)

Police Lieutenant Frank Drebin is back, where he investigates a bombing and stumbles into a criminal conspiracy involving Big Oil. As always, the plot of these movies is secondary to the succession of rapid-fire jokes and sight gags that are hidden in every scene. Admittedly, there is a big drop off in quality, but Leslie Nielsen is so effortlessly brilliant in the role, even when the jokes don't land, he still pulls it off with style and ease. It's top-loaded with enough irreverence and slapstick humor to put a smirk on your face if you're into this brand of over-the-top comedy. Just adjust your expectations accordingly, turn your brain to the "off" position and strap in for stupidity and big laughs.

3¼ Black Russians out of 5

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

What began as a low-rated six-episode spoof of M Squad and other police procedurals of the day became a highly popular film franchise starring the inimitable Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling Lt. Frank Drebin of Police Squad. Following the trademark irreverent humor of ZAZ, it features slapstick, sight gags, wordplay, non sequiturs, sexual innuendo and laugh out loud absurdity. The reason these movies succeed and continue to persist is because of the brilliance and comic timing of Leslie Nielsen, who always plays it straight and never acknowledges the ridiculousness of the situation. In terms of laughs per minute, you're getting your money's worth here. This is a movie you can watch multiple times and catch something new each time. This review might as well extend to the entirety of Police Squad!, which was chock-full of subversive humor and ingenuity. These films remain at the top of the comedy lovers' pile.

4½ stuffed beavers out of 5

Note: The original series, Police Squad! (1982), gets 5 sirens out of 5 from me.

Ruthless People (1986)

Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker reunited on one last film before going their separate ways in the '90s. In a departure from their previous spoof style, they tackle a dark plot involving kidnapping, blackmail and murder which goes all sorts of wrong. Danny DeVito plays a man who despises his wife (Bette Midler) and plans to have her killed, when he finds out she's been taken and held at ransom by two desperate captors who don't know what they're doing. In some ways, this satirical black comedy feels like a precursor to Fargo. The result is wildly uneven at times, even though it contains many memorable moments.

2½ Stockholm syndromes out of 5

Top Secret! (1984)

What happens when you mishmash Elvis Presley musicals, WWII and Cold War-era spy films together? A highly uneven effort from Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker.

Val Kilmer makes his auspicious film debut as American rock 'n' roll star Nick Rivers, who gets invited to East Germany to perform, where he inadvertently becomes mixed up in the resistance. The plot is largely irrelevant, as it merely provides the framework for a quick-fire series of gags and non-sequiturs. This is a movie I always think I'll like a lot more than I do, but what counts most is that it's relentlessly funny, which is really all that matters in a spoof comedy.

3 Swedish bookstores out of 5

Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)

Two things strike me about this movie. How much better it holds up than my memory of it, and also how much worse it is compared to the original.

ZAZ exhausted every single airline-related joke the first time around, so they elected not to return for this studio-mandated sequel (as they were busy developing Police Squad! with Leslie Nielsen). Plot-wise, it's exactly the same, except now the plane is a space shuttle and all the passengers are heading to the moon for some reason. Yeah, it's completely stupid. The '80s were wild.

The result is uneven to be sure, but are enough gags crammed in that even when they don't land, it remains partially successful. It just goes to show, not anyone can make these movies funny. It's a case of flying too close to the sun.

2 drinking problems out of 5

Airplane! (1980)

From the brainchild of ZAZ (Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker) comes a spoof classic that is so immensely quotable and laugh-a-minute funny, it belongs on the pantheon of great comedy movies. What began as a humorous send-up of disaster films such as Zero Hour! (1957) and the Airport series ended up as the blueprint for every parody movie to come. It comes at a time when serious actors like Peter Graves and Lloyd Bridges weren't afraid to take the piss out of themselves. Of these, Leslie Nielsen (known for dramatic roles at the time) made his transition to deadpan comedy icon. Packed to the brim with slapstick, sight gags, puns, one-liners and clever wordplay, it's a relentless barrage of lowbrow silliness that is still considered one of the funniest films of all time.

5 Shirleys out of 5

Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

One of my favorite and most consistently entertaining sketch comedy movies, this anthology satirizes the experience of channel surfing through late-night television. Ironically, the titular film (a spoof of low-budget 1950s sci-fi films) is the weak link, although it cleverly weaves throughout the other segments, featuring a huge ensemble of celebrities and directed by some big shots. This shit is ribald and obscene and hilarious. They don't make 'em like they used to.

3½ remote controls out of 5

Disco Beaver from Outer Space (1979)

Some movies are too bizarre to believe. This lost HBO production from the late '70s disappeared forever until YouTube came along decades later to restore it. And nothing of value was gained. It's a relic that is better off staying buried.

A send-up of sci-fi films and cable programming of the 1970s, this early dud from National Lampoon is a failure to launch. Despite the promising title, it's just some dude in a beaver costume accompanied by a disco track. Zero stars is too generous, yet the incessant theme tune persists rent-free in my head.

There is no redeeming value at all; no humor, nothing memorable. And yet, had I seen this when I was younger, would it have held a greater impact on me? Who can say?

0 dams out of 5

The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)

The classic sketch comedy movie from the Kentucky Fried Theater troupe (David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker) is presented as a series of highly irreverent programming on a local TV station, with fake commercials, news segments, movie trailers and a "feature film" (the Bruce Lee parody "A Fistful of Yen"). It's only the latter segment which weighs the middle of the movie down by being a bit too long, although it's filled with memorable moments that have persisted in my memory. It's gleefully profane and "of its time," and the type of humor you wouldn't be able to get away with nowadays, which is its main selling point. As with the nature of all sketch comedy, it can be hit or miss at times, but this is mostly hit. There are so many overlaps between this and The Groove Tube, I think one must have influenced the other.

3½ "Films at 11" out of 5

The Groove Tube (1974)

One of the earliest examples of a sketch comedy movie (outside of Monty Python and Woody Allen), this unconnected series of vignettes revolves around a spoof of '70s counterculture, local television and commercials of the time. A lot of these references are long gone and only the parody remains.

As with all sketch comedy, there are swings and misses, but the worst offense is a lengthy segment in the middle about a couple of drug dealers which really drags the pacing down. This was also Chevy Chase's first role (before he hit it big on Saturday Night Live the following year), but he only features in two brief bits although was advertised as the "star" on the cover of the rental box.

I saw this at an impressionable age and it had such an impact on me that I always return to it warmly again and again. It features irreverent, sexually charged humor that is chock-full of indecency and scatological references. This was always the stuff I craved; I was clearly born in the wrong time.

If obscenity is your bag, you will enjoy this.

3 "make believe" times out of 5

Note: Originally recorded in 4:3 format, it's been "remastered" and cropped to 16:9 for modern boob tubes, which sadly means you lose part of the frame.

The Cheech & Chong Collection

In 1969, a Mexican-American and a Chinese-Canadian found each other through the counterculture movement and formed a comedy duo. Through stand-up, sketches, studio recordings, feature films and assorted media performances, their hippie and drug-infused humor spanned more than five decades and influenced comedy for generations to come. This is their story, in a nutshell.

01. Up in Smoke (1978)
02. Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980)
03. Nice Dreams (1981)
04. Things Are Tough All Over (1982)
05. Still Smokin' (1983)
06. Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984)
07. Get Out of My Room (1985, visual album)
08. Born in East L.A. (1987, Cheech Marin solo)
09. Far Out Man (1990, Tommy Chong solo)
10. a/k/a Tommy Chong (2006, documentary)
11. Hey, Watch This! (2010, stand-up comedy)
12. Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie! (2013, animation)
13. Cheech & Chong's Last Movie (2024, documentary)

Cheech & Chong's Last Movie (2024)

A very intimate, personal portrait of two friends and partners who brought drug humor to the mainstream in the '70s and '80s. We get to hear their stories told from their own experiences, even when the details don't quite match up. It's interesting to see how they both struggled in similar ways growing up, yet they were always destined to somehow be together. It's a very transparent journey, juxtaposed by a modern storyline involving them driving through the desert and sharing memories. It covers many of their biggest recording hits and burgeoning film careers, though sadly it all pretty much ends after 1987. I enjoyed each recollection every step of the way and never wanted it to end.

3 "Dave? Dave's not here, man" out of 5

Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie (2013)

Technically the first "new" Cheech and Chong adventure since The Corsican Brothers, this animated film features new interpretations of their classic skits. Similar to the records, C&C voice all the characters. Unfortunately, the humor doesn't really translate all that well to this medium. The animation style is a bit stiff and doesn't really compete with your own imagination when listening to these comedy bits. You're better off purchasing a "greatest hits" collection.

2 pubic lice out of 5

Hey, Watch This! (2010)

AKA: Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This

Follows Cheech & Chong on their 2008-09 "Light Up America" tour, as they perform stand-up, sketches and music in their 60s and 70s. In addition to their classic material, C&C also play various characters in the audience reacting to what's going on on stage. While it's cool to see them reunite to recreate some of their famous comedy bits, this is not representative of the finest work of the duo. It's edited badly and features too many cutaways that frequently step on the jokes. A better showcase of this material can be found in Still Smokin'.

2½ dope deals out of 5

a/k/a Tommy Chong (2006)

A very uneven account of Tommy Chong's arrest in 2003 following a raid on his internet bong business and the resulting trial and prosecution. Branded as a terrorist under the Bush administration in the years following 9/11, he was sentenced to 9 months in federal prison as a dog-whistle for the war on drugs. It gives a cursory glance on the comedy of Cheech & Chong, features some stand-up material by Chong, and explores drug culture and arguments of free speech, but the subject matter in itself isn't really versatile enough to sustain an 80-minute runtime. It's pretty cut and dried, and you already know which side of the equation you're going to fall on.

2½ weapons of mass destruction out of 5

Far Out Man (1990)

"A Tommy Chong Attempt"

An aging hippie sets off a road trip across America in search of his lost love, Tree. The film is a bit of an oddity for how many times it breaks the fourth wall. This movie notably lacks a cohesive plot, instead functioning as a vehicle for many of his family and friends to guest star in a loose semblance of his life. It's a bit of a vanity piece, but it's actually more entertaining than it sounds.

1½ Cheech cameos out of 5

Note: Initially, I thought this title was the hippie phrase "Far Out, Man" but it's actually the name the Chong character is referred to throughout the film.

Born in East L.A. (1987)

Not technically a Cheech & Chong film, this was Cheech Marin's first outing as a solo act, borrowing the title and premise from a music video featured in Get Out of My Room. 

A Los Angelino native forgets his wallet at home during an immigration raid where he's promptly deported to Mexico. It follows his unsuccessful attempts to get back across the border, while flirting with romance and trying to make some scratch on the side. It's a movie in desperate need of a third act. It was chopped to bits in its final edit, but a longer version exists in the TV cut.

2 Jesus holograms out of 5

Get Out of My Room (1985)

A mockumentary on Cheech & Chong's first "video album" is basically a series of loosely connected vignettes, sketches and some fun music videos (the most well-known of these being "Born in East L.A."). It's funny on occasion but definitely not representative of the duo's best work. The best parts are when they're riffing in the moment and catch each other off guard in a laugh. You get a great sense of their relationship and on-screen chemistry. Sadly, this was the last time they appeared on camera together for many years.

2½ eyeball creatures out of 5

Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984)

This film takes a bit of a different tack as Cheech & Chong seek to distance themselves from their stoner persona and prove themselves as comedic actors capable of further range. It's a fairly straight parody take on Alexandre Dumas's The Corsican Brothers, about Siamese twins who are able to feel each other's pain (and pleasure), and that's where the bulk of the humor lies. Even though it's free of their trademark drug humor, it seems like the kind of thing that only be appreciated when you're high. At times, it feels like a series of gags ripped from classic slapstick comedies. And I say that as the only thing that saves it from getting a lower score. This is pretty bad. It performed so poorly at the box office, it spelled the end of C&C's big screen adventures.

1½ Fuckaires out of 5

Note: This harkens back to the age where the movie posters heavily suggest it to be much better than it is. I don't remember that scene happening at all.

Still Smokin' (1983)

Cheech & Chong head for Amsterdam to play a film festival, where they are mistaken for Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton and given the royal treatment. This is the first movie in which the duo actually play themselves (as C-list celebrities), rather than their stoned counterparts. The first half-hour is great, while the remaining runtime features them acting out a collection of sketches in preparation for their big stage show. My favorite of these is a skit in which they wrestle the Invisible Man, which is just a masterclass in slapstick acting. The film culminates in live concert footage of some of their greatest hits.

It's considered to be one of their worst, but I love this shit. Fuck the critics.

3 mating interludes out of 5

Things Are Tough All Over (1982)

Cheech & Chong struggle to hold a series of odd jobs during a particularly harsh winter, until they are hired by a couple of wealthy Arabs (also played by the duo) to make a run down to Las Vegas, which inevitably leaves them lost and stranded, wandering through the deserts of Nevada. This feels like a much more traditionally plotted comedy and doesn't rely as heavily on drug humor (though it still remains prevalent). This is not the best of the C&C films, but it's one of the most consistently funny ones, although it lacks a proper resolution.

3 freak-outs out of 5

Nice Dreams (1981)

AKA: Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams

Cheech & Chong now own their own ice cream vendor business, as a front for selling marijuana. This flimsy plot acts as an excuse to tie together scenes involving doing lines at a restaurant, getting locked away in a sanatorium, and a really fun sequence involving a threesome at a hotel, which remains the most memorable part of this movie. Besides the raunchy humor, there is an old fashioned appeal to this duo that dates all the way back to the tradition of Laurel & Hardy and Abbott & Costello. There's no denying these movies are really dumb, but there's an irresistible charm that makes it difficult to dismiss.

Also features brilliant lines such as this:

"Will you forget about titties? We've got a bust to think about!"

2½ helicopters circling a nude beach out of 5

Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980)

The continuing adventures of Cheech & Chong (now going under their own pseudonym) as they get into trouble and meet strange characters across L.A. As a comedy feature, it's wildly uneven, but you have to admire its audacity for going weird places and risking losing the plot. Notable for featuring some early roles from Michael Winslow and Paul Reubens (as Pee-wee Herman).

2½ literal roaches out of 5

Note: There is a long lost television edit of this film which features a new storyline and so much alternate footage that it's almost an entirely different movie. It removes all references to drugs and now refers to "diamonds" in an effort to make it "family" friendly. It also somehow manages to make less sense than the theatrical cut, so it gets half a roach less.

Up in Smoke (1978)

AKA: Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke

The first of the big screen adventures of Cheech & Chong follows the hilarious antics of two drug-obsessed young hombres, Pedro and Man. While the plot is scattershot, it's kind of irrelevant when you've got chemistry off the charts like this. You have to be attuned to a particular kind of lowbrow humor to fully appreciate it; being a doper is not required (though I'm sure it probably helps). As someone who has never smoked a day in his life, I find this shit hilarious. 

Arising from the hippie and drug counterculture movements of the '60s and '70s, it effectively established the stoner buddy comedy genre, inspiring the likes of Bill & Ted, Jay & Silent Bob, Harold & Kumar and other dopey duos.

3 weed trucks out of 5

Weekend at Bernie's II (1993)

How does one pull off a sequel to a film where the lead is already dead? By resurrecting him with voodoo magic, of course. Man, this film is a trip... How anyone thought this was a good idea is beyond me. Yet it travels all the way from terrible to strangely compelling. I don't even know how else to describe the odd appeal. I probably liked this film more than anyone else on the planet.

2½ Bernie Dances out of 5

Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

Once the butt of every joke, Bernie's has come all the way around again and become revered as a cult classic. The central premise is hilariously absurd: Keeping up the charade that Bernie is still alive through a weekend at The Hamptons by puppeteering him to life so they aren't implicated in his murder. This shit is so dark and you have to have a morbid sense of humor to watch a corpse do pratfalls. It's somehow perfectly complemented by a great reggae flavored soundtrack which goes hand in hand with summertime fun in the sun.

You have to admire the audacity of studio execs willing to greenlight this shit.

3 necrophiles out of 5

Bachelor Party (1984)

Some raunchy '80s comedies don't age as well as others, and such is the case for the lowbrow Bachelor Party, which mistakes a series of shallow jokes for any semblance of plot. It's mostly regarded for being one of Tom Hanks's earliest leading roles (before making a splash in Splash), back when he was still known as the manic character actor on Bosom Buddies. The premise is simple: a wiseacre is getting married and his pals decide to go all out on the festivities, while all the poor sucker has to do is refrain from infidelity. It's a tired and predictable morality tale, and the results are about as expected.

1 footlong out of 5

American Wedding (2003)

AKA: American Pie 3: The Wedding

Jim and Michelle are getting married, while Stifler throws the bachelor party. This entry focuses more on Steve Stifler's story, who was the only one of the high school cadre who hasn't changed at all, which is a relatable feeling.

I unabashedly love this series, even if my compadres do not. The first two entries are still my favorite. More than anything, it serves as a time capsule into what comedies used to be during a very specific slice of time and will never be again. Unfortunately, I could only ever relate to the first movie.

They show what friendship could be and the strengthening of those bonds forged during your formative years. Everything works out for the best for everyone, of course. These are life experiences I will never know or have.

These movies feel quaint now, some 20 years later. I miss them.

2½ GILFs out of 5

Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love (1994)

Booger's getting married! However, the in-laws are none too happy about their acquisition. At this point, there is no revenge left. The nerds have won.

What's startling about watching these so-called "raunchy" movies all these years later is how tame they actually turned out to be compared to modern times. Somehow, this series does a complete 180 and comes out sweet and wholesome on the other side; from a movie about underdogs to the nerds eventually coming out on top. There's nowhere else for it to go but down.

Carradine and Armstrong are the gatekeepers of this franchise, and honestly any points this film gets is credited towards their incredible chemistry and commitment to the bit. When these films are over, you tend to miss them.

1½ nouveau riche out of 5

Note: When this first aired on TV in 1994, the gimmick was that it was in 3-D. You could use one of those old red-and-blue glasses in order to view it in "Nerd-O-Vision." Watching it 30 years later no longer has that same novelty.

Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation (1992)

Wow, this feels like a far cry from the original. It's got that cheap made-for-TV feeling all over it. A few of the stars return, so it's not totally disconnected from the franchise, even though it's heavily watered down from the first two.

Lewis (Robert Carradine) has now become a rich yuppie asshole with a hot wife. His nerdy nephew and friend are the latest pledges to Lambda Lambda Lambda, which has now become one of the most popular frats on campus. Meanwhile the jocks are now the ones who are out for revenge, in order to get back on top. On paper, this all sounds good, but the execution is lacking. 

1½ stifled nerd laughs out of 5

Note: This was intended as a "backdoor" pilot to a TV series, but it fell through.

Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise (1987)

All the fraternities are invited to a conference in Florida, where the Lambda Lambda Lambdas are promptly kicked out of the high scale accommodations and sent off with their tails between their legs by those mean ol' Alpha Betas.

It's ironic that these movies about nerds are so fucking stupid, but hey, it's all gravy anyway. How much you enjoy it will depend entirely on how much you can stomach certain bodily humor. No longer interested in sex, the nerds are getting kind of boring at this point. Honestly, the best thing going for it is the title. It conjures to mind a better version of what this movie could have been.

2 loogies from the soul out of 5

Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

After being forced out of their fraternity, the nerds, losers and other rejects of society quietly plot their revenge against the Alpha Beta jocks who seek to oppress them. This is pure '80s cheese and I love it. Politically incorrect to the max, and with a rockin' soundtrack, it's a true product of its time. It doesn't hold back and lives up to its name. In recent years, people have found plenty to be offended by in this movie, and all I'll say is...that's the damn point. Get over yourselves. Back in the day, this was considered our "representation." It's not meant to be taken seriously or out of context; it's an extremely unrealistic fantasy and meant to be an escape from the harsh realities of life. It's silly and doesn't take itself seriously. You shouldn't either. Let the nerds have their day.

3 panty raids out of 5

Porky's: Pimpin' Pee Wee (2009)

This is what I learned is called an "ashcan copy." Which means the only reason it got made is to keep the rights from expiring. The editing is atrocious and the jokes are mostly non-existent, but it's filthy and the titties are plentiful. Essentially a rehash of the first film (except all the characters are inexplicably in college now), it contains more nudity in the first two minutes than the first three films combined. There is a surprisingly well thought out plot about needing to quickly raise money by running a rival whorehouse in competition with Porky's, which is far more clever than any of the other movies attempted to be. What's inexplicable to me is that this was still better than either of the official sequels. Sometimes just leaning into the shittiness is enough to gain my respect. It's essentially softcore porn, but at least it's honest about it.

2 cursed glory holes out of 5

Porky's Revenge! (1985)

This time Porky's operates as a river boat, while the boys are trying to win a basketball championship. It's an attempt to return to the spirit of the original, yet somehow, these movies seem so watered down to me. They have such a reputation for being unadulterated teenage filth, but aside from the first one, they seem almost quaint. This series sure held up a lot better in my memory.

I love sex and I love nudity but even that was not enough to do it for me.

1 morning boner out of 5

Porky's II: The Next Day (1983)

Everyone's aged a couple years by the following day in Bob Clark's follow-up to the cult classic. It follows the familiar formula of sex jokes and pranks, but unfortunately, there are no memorable sequences here that have stood the test of time. It's the typical teenage hijinks, which are mostly harmless fun but ultimately not all that amusing. This time the plot involves the school putting on a Shakespeare play, while the prudish parents decree it as too obscene. It's surprisingly highbrow for Porky's, but doubles as meta-commentary. Feels like they made an effort to make this one less controversial, and it suffers for it.

2 toilet snakes out of 5

Porky's (1981)

Bob Clark, never one to pigeonhole himself in one genre, presents us with the quintessential teen sex comedy of the '80s. Set in 1954, it revolves around a group of teens who try to get laid and wander over to the whorehouse where they are humiliated and vow revenge against the portly titular owner. Little more than sex jokes, boobies and practical jokes, these movies always get a bad rap for being exploitative towards women, but as usual, it's the guys who come off worst of all. It confronts racist and sexist attitudes of the day, but it's never intended to be mean-spirited or bigoted. It's all in good-natured fun which almost feels rather tame in retrospect. Audiences reappraising this film nowadays will no doubt look for any excuse to be offended, but there is an innocent charm about it that really captures the rebellious teenage spirit. A defining cultural phenomenon for its time, it was the predecessor to gross-out sex comedies like American Pie, and still one of the best examples of its kind.

3 peep shows out of 5

Class of '44 (1973)

A lousy comedy sequel that dispenses with the romance and artsiness of its predecessor and instead settles into a more conventional teen narrative, set against the backdrop of college life. It's mostly forgettable and unfortunately fritters away the goodwill from the original. Hermie seems a lot more adjusted and upbeat here, which of course means I can't relate to his plight anymore.

2 wartime threats out of 5

Summer of '42 (1971)

Poor Hermie is a frustrated virgin and hopeless romantic who desperately tries to get laid alongside his horny friends Oscy and Benjie. He develops an interest in the mysterious but sad looking older woman who has recently appeared on the beachfront, where he attempts to strike up a conversation with her. This classic coming-of-age film encapsulates the awkwardness of youth and the tender, deep-seated longing of unrequited love. It manages to perfectly encompass that raw feeling of growing up, even if you weren't alive in this era. The themes of this film feel timeless across the board.

5 innocence lost out of 5