Performance Date: August 20th, 2009
Rifttrax first live show -broadcast in theaters across America- was performed from the Belcourt in Nashville. Having lived in that fine city (and watched films like "The Seven Samurai" at that venue), I got a kick out of seeing some familiar sights. As far as the show is concerned, I enjoyed this one better than the later X-Mas program. I think it was a good idea to mix it up with a host, musical guest, and the infomercials. It kept things lively and lent it a 'good old-fashioned variety show' kind of vibe.
Live comedy is great, hearing that natural-born laughter adds an ebullient spirit that you don’t get from a studio-recorded release (don't get me wrong, those are great as well, but audience reaction is an added bonus).
Our host was Veronica Belmont, who seemed a bit nervous, but she wasn't bad (and nothing she did was near as painful as the awkward vegetarian bit with Weird Al in the Christmas show). I like having someone to set things up. Added to the mix are a couple of funny commercials by Rich Kyanka (guest rifer on Troll 2) and some musical comedy from Jonathon Coulton. I'm not a fan of Coulton but I didn't mind a musical interlude – only it was 12 minutes too much of that guy. One song would have sufficed, plus the one with the Rifftones.
I liked hearing the different riffs, especially on the Stewardess short, which seems funnier live than the studio release, and Plan 9 was one of their better efforts. You get to see the guys from time to time on the left part of the screen. It is something that's fun to keep an eye on, on repeat viewings. Watching Kevin crack up during the "stupid, stupid!" speech makes it all the funnier.
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Performance Date: December 16th, 2009
Recorded in San Diego, MK&B open the show with two shorts that had previously been released (including "Christmas Toyshop"). These were okay, it was nice to hear the audience's reactions, but there were also some problems with the sound (I noticed the same thing in the theater). I find I prefer the studio version of "A Visit to Santa" simply because of the clarity and timing is sharper.
After this bumpy start, the guys get into a groove and we are offered fresh, clean, never before worn shorts. The best of these was the animated "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer", which was enhanced by the roar of laughter from the audience, due to a scene where Santa sits and Rudolph's bed and utters one of the all-time perfect lines. The laughter was so raucous that Bill mentions that they lost 3 riffs. It was worth it though - listening to the studio version with those riffs isn't half as funny. Other highlights included the nightmarish "A Christmas Dream" (featuring a rag doll that comes to life) and the "Night Before Christmas" where we delight in watching Santa give away cheap, lame toys. Also included in the mix, the dry, no account story of a tree, titled "Christmas Rhapsody". Which also gave up more than a few hearty laughs.
There are also 2 shorts that break from tradition. The first was the best. "Three Magic Words", is about these 3 guys who sing and sing and sing about pork. MK&B are joined by Weird Al on this piece, which is nice... but this is all we get from the comic. In "Plan 9 Live" there was too much Jonathon Coulton, here we get too little from Weird Al. Rifftrax can't seem to find a happy medium with their singing guests. That Al doesn’t perform a number is one of two disappointments in this show. The other is the flat and unfunny, "Parade of Aquatic Champions". The setup on this short is clever, but the film is a dud and the riffer's seem at a loss as to what to do with it.
In addition to the movies, we get some interaction with a contest winner and a funny gift exchange between the boys. The DVD doesn't include the old gift piece (with Kevin in lady's stockings and Mike and Bill ralphing) -which was seen at the end in theaters- but it does offer a quick slideshow as an extra. All told a fun release, with a couple of minor hiccups.
Performance Date: August 19th, 2010
Recorded in San Diego, The show starts off red hot with a couple of superb shorts. More Dangerous Than Dynamite is a non-stop laugh riot from the 30s, about people who wash clothes in gasoline. Following that is the surreal At Your Fingertips: Grasses, a meandering piece about some ugly grass-related craftwork. It too offers up the funny (and pushed Kevin to fits of grass-madness). Two amusing cartoon bits by Rich Kyanka and his daughter, sandwich the weakest part of the evening - a dull cartoon titled Frozen Frolics. Which earned a couple of chuckles, but mostly left me in the cold.
Then starts our feature. Reefer has been riffed twice before, and this 3rd try is similar to the 2nd: A good, not great effort. The folks I watched it with chortled and chuckled, especially during the second half of the picture. But it rarely reached the sidesplitting levels of the 1st 2 shorts. DVD includes a 'not that funny' intro from MK&B. There is also a Blu-ray release.
Performance Date: October 28th, 2010
Halloween is the perfect holiday for a Rifftrax event. You get to dress up, hang out with friends... catch a William Castle classic and enjoy a laugh. I had a great time at the theater and was looking forward to catching it again on DVD.
The show opens with 2 shorts; both were strange slices of fun. "Magical Disappearing Money" is one of RT best, it's about a grocery witch who'll be damned if she'll let people shop in peace. The flick is packed with humor, right to the very last line. After that, comedian Paul F Thompkins joins MK&B on stage. I didn't find Paul's 'mirror' bit very funny, but he was an affable guy and he proved to be a top-notch riffer - as he helped tackle the bizarre, "Paper and I". As with the previous short, it's funny all on its own -- what with that talking paper bag and creepy kid. While the guys miss a few opportunities (they really should have done a Coily callback -"No paper" –whistle-) paper proved to be a pip overall.
From here we move right into the feature. I like Castle, like the film, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a laugh at its expense. It's a good solid effort, with a couple of new riffs added in (Inception is referenced, there's a callback to the paper short). And at one point Paul returns and replaces Kevin. In addition to the jokes, it's a kick to see the audience dressed up as MST characters. The disc includes extras: 2 slide shows and 2 commercials.
Performance Date: August 17th, 2011
"We take you now to an even crapier remake of Clash of the Titans" – Mike
Yet another fun one, and it was nice to have a brand new, never before riffed flick to enjoy. The show opens with a bang with the short, "What is Nothing?" In which two boys -caught in the grip of an existential crisis- discuss the nature of nothingness. The riffing on this piece was uproarious; Mike, Kevin, and Bill portray the kids as stoner philosophers, have fun with the freeze frames and even take a shot at the poetry of Jewel.
Following that wonderfulness are two cute bits from Rich Kyanka and daughter -- and then we move on to the movie. Which wasn't too bad (comparative to some of the really bad pictures these folks –and their audiences- have been forced to watch over the years). It's a cheesy but lighthearted romp about a brave man in tights, who goes off on a quest to save a kidnapped princess from the clutches of an evil wizard. Aiding him is an orphaned sailor boy, a blood-thirsty Viking and, best of all, a leprechaun in a bottle, who offers magical help and advice... the best being his urgent demand that Jack, "Seize the bone!"
While the laughs take a dip in the final act, overall the release offered a breezy good time. The guys lock into the movie nicely ("Oh boy... porridge" – Bill as less-than-enthused Princess) and employ some funny reference material; I especially got a big guffaw out of the Stevie Nicks and Graduate quips.
#13 in Mighty Jack's Top 50
Performance Date: August 16th, 2012
"The script literally said, “Lick me”" - Bill
Revisiting one of MST3K classic episodes seems a mad thing to do, but the Rifftrax gang are just crazy enough to make it work. Comparisons are inevitable, but as I watched it never really came down to one vs. the other. Mike, Kevin, and Bill are doing their own thing here and they do it quite well. This was darn funny.
The painful movie helps. Torgo is comedy gold and the awkward pregnant pauses are head shaking and uproariously picked on. The Traxers quip on a few different scenes from what we saw on MST3K, but those are mostly extended bits where the characters simply stand and stare off into space.
The show opens with 2 shorts: The first, Welcome Back, Norman is a chore to sit through. Even with riffs and despite the guy's affection for his catchphrase, Norman and the slog of a short just didn't strike my funny bone. The second was funnier, it's about Cylinders and comes from the makers of "At Your Fingertips: Grasses". There is also an amusing commercial for prune juice. But the star of the show is Manos, that's where the laughs really hit hard. I expected this to be a pale copy of the MST3K version, but it acquits itself quite well. The quips are quick, silly and engage the film nicely.
#25 in Mighty Jack's Top 50
Performance Date: October 25th, 2012
"It says, "no, we can not keep in contact"" – Kevin as Rob reading Natalie's business card
The gang returns to Nashville and they bring another Norman short with them. I enjoyed this one, titled Norman Checks In, better than the last, if for the disturbing yet hilarious shower scene alone. After this and a quick intro, the show scoots right into the feature. The movie, as we know, is one of those ineptly filmed and acted pictures that are funny even without riffing, but the quips amps it up to another level.
There are different jokes to be heard: ala during the scene at the 27-minute mark, where we see a guy on the phone walking behind Rob. It's a moment that was greeted with appreciated laughter and applause. And that's another plus, the audience. Their upbeat reaction to the jokes and film adds an extra jolt of fun. As much as I liked the studio version, it's an even bigger kick live.
Performance Date: January 24th, 2013 at San Francisco's Castro Theatre
In which several comedy giants join Mike, Kevin, and Bill in a night of shorts and frivolity: First on the docket is Welcome Home, Norman, which really seems to tickle our riff team, but doesn’t do a whole lot for me. Not my favorite short and not a great start for the show... which thankfully rebounds when Janet Varney and Cole Stratton amble on stage for a rollicking rendition of Perc, Pop and Sprinkle. Janet and Cole are pros at this riff game and their contributions are much enjoyed -- as are those by Kids in the Hall's, Kevin McDonald, who helps on Choking: To Save a Life. Despite some problems with the sound, which made it difficult to hear McDonald early in the short. He proves to be a master movie quipper.
Following this round of guests, the trio tackle Cooking Terms, which was as funny as ever. And then they welcome Myth Buster's Adam Savage to work over the classic More Dangerous Than Dynamite. While the opening banter between the foursome was entertaining, Adam's riff delivery needs a little work. He sounded like he was trying too hard. He came off a bit strident and overly enthused, rather than just going with the flow. Up next, Kristen Schaal helps out on If Mirror's Could Speak. I love Kristen's voice work on Bob's Burgers, she has a quirky, cool delivery -- though at times, I had difficulty understanding her lines here, and she too, didn’t seem to mesh well with the guys. Still, I enjoyed hearing her and would be happy to see her have a go on a studio-produced release. Last but not least, Paul F Tompkin's takes the stage and -after a cute airplane flight story- rips into At Your Fingertips: Cylinders. Paul's great and he adds a few unique touches to the riffs that add an extra layer of funny. All told, an entertaining release
#24 in Mighty Jack's Top 50
Performance Date: August 15th, 2013
It began as a kick starter campaign for a live riffing on Twilight, when they couldn't get the rights for that, we got this flick instead. While Twilight would have a dream, Troopers was not a poor substitute. Note: There will be no DVD for this show, though an MP3 studio version was recorded. One thing you won't find in the studio version is Kevin's 7th-anniversary gorilla gram. What's that? Well, whenever there was nudity on the screen, a gorilla with balloons would come out on stage, dance and such, while the guys bantered back and forth. It worked about as well as Cinematic Titanic's breast blimp – good in theory, a momentum killer in practice. If you get the MP3 you get the scenes unedited with riffs.
As for the riffing? I thought they tapped into the film really well. Whether it's some stalkerish behavior, the not always so advanced future tech, or Jake Busey's teeth, they take note of it and dig in. The work was often barbwire sharp. I loved the references… and they didn't just throw them out there willy-nilly or to pander, no, they fit and were smart and hilarious. And they do a good job taking the film to task, as when they note the scripts heavy reliance on the word “move!” The studio version is just as wonderful, (and offers more clarity) though I miss the audience reactions. Two lost riffs on the MP3 came during the studio credit, in which Mike opens with, "Ah it's morning. No, it's a supernova, my mistake." And when we see Pegasus, Bill quips, "Just dropped Harry Hamlin into the ocean, felt great" (as someone in the background screams "Aaaaaa!")
Performance Date: October 24th, 2013
Things have changed since the last time they riffed on this feature, so they added some fresh new riffs, updated a few of the references (President Obama, Miley Cyrus), and took the show on the road. How did they do, Mmm, It was a bit of a slow starter. They open with another Norman short (Norman Gives a Speech) which was fair at best. And the early work on the feature went along the same lines… there were a few goodies, but it wasn't gangbusters.
And then a guy punches a girl in the jaw and Bill offers up… “And that kids is how I met your mother!" (Big laugh). They follow with a nod to “To Kill A Mockingbird” and it was off to the races from there on out. That strong finish put this in the win column.
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Performance Date: December 5th, 2013
The problem with being the 3rd group to riff on a film is that most of the good jokes have been used already. Regardless, MK&B got a few fresh laughs: Noticing Voldar's interest in the landing was cute, and I liked the 'young Scully and Mulder' quip. to name two.
The short Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen was weird. It features a Brownie who makes Mr. B seem calm and reserved. I got a handful of chuckles out of that. But all told, while there are laughs to be had, SCCTM is the lesser of the 3 versions and not my favorite of the live shows.
