Thursday, May 13, 2021

Bridget and Mary Jo - Rifftrax Features


MST3K vets Bridget Nelson and Mary Jo Pehl have reunited on Rifftrax, and have been a highlight... The guys are great, but variety is the spice of life. Enter B&MJ, who have a different style, perspective, and riff delivery, they serve up something a little new. While they've done some amazing work on short films, I'm going to start with their feature-length releases (no specials)

Page 1 Index:
Cat Woman of the Moon * Gravity * Amazing Mr. X * Angel's Revenge * Deadly Instincts * Beyond Christmas * Junior Prom * Sherlock Holmes and the Woman in Green * She * Devil Girl from Mars * Freddie Steps Out * Rescue Me * Sherlock Holmes: Dressed to Kill * She Demons * Scared to Death * High School Hero * Fear * Vacation Days * Last Woman on Earth * Sherlock Holmes: Terror by Night * Strange Impersonation * Lady Mobster * Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon * Bride of the Gorilla * Frankenstein's Daughter * High School U.S.A. * Amanda and the Alien * What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? * Baby of the Bride * Earth Angel * Wonder Woman '84 * Mother of the Bride * Lucky Day * Before I Say Goodbye * Married Too Young * Teenage Space Vampires * He Sees You When You're Sleeping * Children of the Bride * Crime of Passion * The Brain That Wouldn't Die * Woman Who Came Back * I'll Be Seeing You * Page 2

Cat-Woman of the Moon
Release date: April 15, 2016
Their first full-length feature is a short little picture, later remade as Missile to the Moon, which was hilariously covered by Mike and Fred Willard (my preferred version).

The work on this one is more enjoyably amusing than full out hysterical, the ladies make kitty jokes and such ("Help!" - "A furry is giving me a hickey!" - Bridget, or "She's kissing him, but thinking of Morris" - Mary Jo) they point out the sexism, and Bridget nicely acknowledges that star Marie Windsor was the Queen of Bs... unfortunately, Marie's not as amazing here as she was in her noirs like The Killing and The Narrow Margin (her screaming is ear piercing, ouch), and B&MJ express some disappointment when she combs her hair and fixes her makeup during the flight. (ah 50s sci-fi, forward enough to anticipate women in space, but so stuck in the era as far as treatment and portrayal goes)

Gravity
Release date: June 9, 2016
B&MJ's second was a "just the jokes" release and since I don't own the movie, I'm not able to easily revisit this one. I do remember enjoying it, but to the degree, I can't be sure. 

The Amazing Mr. X
Release date: January 6, 2017
I wasn't sure about this one because I actually liked the movie (I'd seen it before), and thought I might focus on it instead of the jokes. But B&MJ made it work. I was often in stitches, "I love you Paul but you have a little dinghy." - Mary Jo (And there's a Trixie Belden reference, to boot, which was a favorite read of mine as a kid).

Angels Revenge
Release date: May 10, 2017
Mary Jo and Bridget take on a movie covered in a so-so episode of MST3K, but here we get bonus clips cut from the previous release. Riff-wise, Bridget throws in a good quip right from the start... "I hope I'm not dead and these are doctors trying to revive me". And it's fun to get the ladies' perspective (though they worked on the original - Molly Hodgdon is also present here as a contributing writer). The vibe is upbeat, with the duo laughing at the movie and at each other's jokes. I have to say Angel's never been a favorite, either here or there, but Mary Jo and Bridget do decent work.

Deadly Instincts
Release date: September 8, 2017
Sexism, inappropriate relationships with students, soapy butt soup, and a rapist alien creature who comes to Earth to breed... yeah, quite the unpleasant movie, but the riffer's power through and bring much laughter to this turd. "Is it gas or 'Old Spice Swagger', I can never tell?" - Bridget. I enjoyed it more on a second go-through, finding oodles of rib-ticklers to enjoy.

Beyond Christmas

Release date: December 15, 2017
"Yes, Jimmy is a little boys name, but I'm a big boy!" (just love the way Bridget delivers that line) 

Ah yes, now this was more like it. This was the gal's third Christmas special and it's a sweet movie with a warm holiday spirit, though that doesn't mean they won't go dark with the jokes if needed, which makes for a funny contrast. There's music, an appearance from TVs Frank (haha), and some g-g-ghosts! Also known by the title "Beyond Tomorrow" this makes for an outstanding Trax.

Junior Prom
Release date: April 27, 2018
This was the first of the Teen-Agers films for the duo, this 66-minute jewel sees Superman's Noel Neill playing it nerdy in glasses, there's kooky slang, jazz, and rigged elections. B&MJ are on point with their riff darts throughout, and get off on the right foot with cute quips during the cartoon credits.

Sherlock Holmes and the Woman in Green
Release date: June 8, 2018
The first of many excellent releases with Bridget & Mary Jo going brain to brain with Sherlock Holmes. Their copy of the film is colorized, and it's another quick watch (running only an hour and eight). There are laughs to be had, though they'll go on to do even better work on this series.

She
#43 in Mighty Jack's Top 50
Release date: July 18, 2018
"Do you know what it means, Tonya?" - "No..." - "but somebody just wet my pants" -Bridget. 
"She" (who must be obeyed) has been filmed several times over the years (including one by Hammer) this version features western star Randolph Scott, a Dr. Watson, and future congresswoman, Helen Gahagan, and is packed with laughs. 

Devil Girl From Mars

Release date: August 2, 2018
Based on a play, and it looks it (it's as near to a chamber piece as sci-fi comes). I wonder if they used the same design for the hilarious robot from stage to film? If so, I bet that thing took a tumble or two (or three) during the performance. 

The premise sounds zany -spacewoman comes to a tiny village for breeding stock- but it's so dry and static, and it takes a while before the Devil Girl ("Dynamite with a laser beam" - Bridget) even shows up. So B&MJ work mightily to keep things popping, but their relaxed, 'just chillin' with a movie' style saves the day - and once the bot makes its appearance, the laughs jump a notch ("when will the submarine surface?" -and- "I'm off to the can, I gotta drop an ICBM")

Freddie Steps Out
Release date: September 7, 2018
More mixed-up shenanigans from the teenage adults, who have to deal with mistaken identity and a baby who belongs to, someone (but everyone makes assumptions about who parented said child). That baby's a comedy gold mine (dig the soothing Black Sabbath music box), but all told I didn't enjoy this one as much as Junior Prom.

Rescue Me
Release date: September 21, 2018
I have to admit, I struggled with Rescue Me. It took several attempts to make it to the end (I was not laughing at the riffs, and the movie was like a trip to the dentist... I know, many of these riffed flicks are terrible, but this one was especially grating for me, the antagonists got on my last nerve, and the protagonists weren't much better)

Sherlock Holmes: Dressed to Kill

#11 in Mighty Jack's Top 50
Release date: January 4, 2019
And I love this Holmes even more than the first - pure wit and silliness from the ladies, and so much fun. It starts off with tinkle tinkle, slurping tea, and an appearance by Bartleby - all of that before we get to witless Watson,  whose a great source of amusement. The crime-solving duo's domestic lives are also a hoot... though seriously, it's all a joy -  plot points, dialogue, the sex and violence, and deductions and stinkies, none of it gets by the ladies notice without hilarious comment and name drops (Chumlee, lmao). Great 'Trax, I'd call this my favorite B&MJ to date.


She Demons
Release date: March 22, 2019
"To bad his waxing session was cut short" - Mary Jo - Demons is about a missing powder blue cashmere shorty... and shipwrecked people stuck on an island filled with Nazis and a mad scientist doing mad experiments... but mostly... powder blue cashmere shorty. While I kind of expected sharper work on this Richard E. Cunha flick, it's alright, enjoyable enough if not stellar.

Scared to Death
Release date: April 12, 2019
This was some kind of 80s romantic comedy monster mash-up. While the movie is dumb the riffing is quick and playful ("A Mary Jo peel-out", ha!), and locks into the film nicely ("He just got back from delivering flowers to every girl whose car he hit this week." - Bridget). It sets itself up for a verbal spanking (roller skating in a parking garage) which B&MJ happily obliges. I was also tickled to hear one of them refer to a woman's purse as a Dopp kit, I don't why, maybe because that was such a dad thing to say, my father never called them shaving kits as others did, it was always a Dopp, so thanks for that ladies. An unusual big laugh, but it did the job for me. 

High School Hero
Release date: May 3, 2019
Another Teen Agers movie, and this might be a case of diminishing returns, as I wasn't feeling this one. 

Fear
Release date: July 26, 2019
A B-noir spin on Crime and Punishment, which co-stars Chris Pine's grandmother as love interest and bad waitress ("You'll get your burger when I'm good and ready!" - Mary Jo) and a 24-year-old Darren McGavin in an uncredited role. Not a remarkable release, but solid.

Vacation Days
Release date: September 6, 2019
The 4th Teen Agers movie and while each Rifftrax release has been a little lesser than the one before, Vacation Days wakes the series up, it might even be the best of the bunch, though the flick recycles a lot of what came before (including another case of mistaken identity for Freddie - yeesh, how many Freddie's are there, it's like some kind of "Three Identical Strangers" situation.) The comedy draws from the absurdities of it all or creates absurdities of its own (turning the principal into some kind of sexy beast). The chemistry between Bridget & MJ is appreciable. 

Last Woman on Earth
Release date: November 15, 2019
With this release, Mary Jo & Bridget are joined by Matthew Elliott & Ian Potter. Matthew & Ian can really cram in the riffs with their own releases, even talking over dialogue so that it makes it difficult to hear what they are quipping on, whereas Bridget and Mary Jo are more relaxed and not so labored - would this teaming be an oil and water mix? Not so much, The Brits pull back a bit, allow for some space between riffs and room for 4 voices to each have their say. The chemistry felt a bit off, the rapport a little over scripted, almost as if they weren't in the same room together, which I imagine was true. Still, it's a curious film, open to capable riff-work, which gets stronger as it goes... the riffers also seem to be more at ease with each other, the timing improves.

Sherlock Holmes: Terror by Night
Release date: January 3, 2020
Another fun Holmes mystery, with Matthew J. Elliott contributing as head writer. Bumbling Watson is still a great source of humor, as was teasing the convoluted scheme, British reserve (love their version of the f-bomb, well, according to the ladies), and apparent British insensitivity to the bereaved. Not the comedy master-class Dressed to Kill was but I always enjoy these Holmesian Trax.

Strange Impersonation

Release date: January 10, 2020
"Why do women feel the need to beat themselves up over their acts of vindictiveness?" - Mary Jo - Hey, they're riffing an old Anthony Mann movie, y'know, the master of 50s psychological westerns? No one seems to notice this (no riffs address it) and it's not one of Mann's all-time greats, still, it was an added spice for me. This is not a western, closer to Mann's noirs, it features a woman scientist betrayed, blackmailed, and bothered by an annoying ambulance chaser named Rinse. The riffing put several smiles on my face, like them pointing out that Steven isn't really all that great a catch or how war-torn France makes a great honeymoon destination.

Lady Mobster
Release date: March 6, 2020
A soap opera Godfather with Susan Lucci - On the Mads Livestream, Mary Jo named Lady Mobster as a release she was particularly happy with, and Bridget loved it, so there you go. The made-for-TV movie allows for Soapy deep cuts, and plenty of -as Bill called it from the MST-days- Bridget & Mary Jo energy. BTW, Bridget's favorite riff... "Dying turned him into On Golden Pond Henry Fonda."

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
Release date: April 17, 2020
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are back! "We've watched them walk through the credits on 4 movies, when are they going to admit they're lost?" - MJ  - Professor Moriarty and Nazis are the foes, and Watson's still the tool at hand (lol) - good times, as expected. As Bridget says, "There's no place like Holmes"

Side note: Mad Movies also took a crack at Secret Weapon and Dressed to Kill.

Bride of the Gorilla
Release date: May 29, 2020
Should have featured a special guest riffer, Professor Bobo, but ah well. This cheesy flick is perfect for a riffing, it's goofy, but plays it straight and doesn't wink at the camera. Raymond Burr's a joy as the cursed plantation owner, and Lon Chaney Jr. is in the cast for added B-movie fun. The gals observe and tease, it's like having a watch party with friends, a couple of very funny friends.

Frankenstein's Daughter

Release date: July 31, 2020
This flick has long been on my riffing want list, but unfortunately, the duo didn't knock it out of the park, and I'm not sure why,  because the movie does so much of the heavy lifting. The makeup and monster are hilarious, but the accompanying quips are only fair to middling.  Or maybe I just wanted something different, a few wicked jabs, some inspired pop culture references, I felt B&MJ were lobbing softballs

High School U.S.A.

Release date: August 14, 2020
A who's who of 80s TV stars (Michael J. Fox, Nancy McKeon), as well as some former young actors from the past (like Bob Denver & Tony Dow), this one's sharper than the previous release - loads of cute n' clever stuff here - from reference material (Apt Pupil, Mr. Muckle),  to funny lines about a blind teacher smelling cortisol. Oh, and what a kick to include Bridget and Mary Jo on the poster. Also, there's a connection between this and Joel Hodgson

Amanda and the Alien
Release date: October 2, 2020
Twisted little sci-fi comedy (our heroes, the murderers). The previous riffed flick was so very 80s, this one is pure 90s, the clothing, and music, and such. The humor's a little on the light side - so not marvelous, but enjoyable enough. Hmm, that sounds like faint praise, but no, you know, I liked it.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Release date: October 23, 2020
Passable Trax on a not-so-passable remake of the classic, with the Redgrave sisters taking on the roles originated by Davis & Crawford. The best part of this offering was the skit at the end.

Baby of the Bride
Release date: December 11, 2020
Directed by a Hulk and co-starring The Flash, the movie was a chore, I really hate these forced soapy melodramas, stocked with irritating characters, but the riffs hit their marks more often than not, the old jokes were a hoot (especially the line about changing diapers for two)

Earth Angel
Release date: January 23, 2021
More made for TV inanity about a ghost who plays matchmaker. In addition to riffing on the movie, Bridget and Mary Jo riff one another, about their age, which is appropriate because there are a lot of teens in their 30s at the start of the picture, including Mark Hamill, Erik Estrada, and Cindy Williams. As a bonus, you have Roddy McDowell as an impatient angel... helper... something. It's a goodie.

Wonder Woman 1984
Release date: February 2, 2021
A just the jokes release - one of the longest, if not the longest movie the ladies have ever done, but they tough it out and never run out of steam - despite what a chore it is. The story contradicts other DC films, trips over its own logic, and I'm glad Bridget & MJ note something that bugged me, that no other critic or viewer has mentioned, but Steve kidnaps this other guy's life. Think about it, he's putting that life in danger, using that body to have sex, and that doesn't bother anyone? So good on the ladies for pointing that out (and yes, where are his friends and family?) WW84 is dumb and distasteful, but B&MJ make it funny by calling out irresponsible actions (accidentally nuking a family having a picnic, lol), the absurdity (conveniently remembering new superpowers), and the 80-isms ("This is GameStop, right?" - which, BTW, was founded in '84). They also offer up a few callbacks ("The Happening is happening") and a litter of cute kitty quips.


Mother of the Bride

Release date: May 7, 2021
"Bridget how do you tell the difference between emotions and allergies?" - Mary Jo.
Chinatown, Charles Manson, Fonzie Springsteen, and the Falklands are just a few of the riff sources to be found in this funny release, which sees the ladies return to the 'Of the Bride' series. I only wish they would have taken a few more shots at the annoying headband guy, what a tiresome -Nick from Family Ties- cosplayer he was.

Lucky Day
Release date: June 11, 2021
"He tried to take the football, I just, couldn't let that happen" - Bridget
This adaptation of a Mary Higgins Clark novel tells the tale of an aspiring actress/part-time curry agency (?) worker, who solves a mystery! “Bill is missing” might become the new "Lembach is staying", and one man's accent inspires some riff nods to The Room. Goofy, good time quipping ("Mary Jo, let's have some crackers with this red herring"), some highbrow references (Plato's Cave), a list of reasons to murder an old guy, and Mary Jo's eagle eyes (noticing the random person in the background, staring at the actors and camera in one scene) are just a few of the highlights. Note: I really dig the new logo, which I've clipped and used for the banner up top.

Before I Say Goodbye
Release date: August 27, 2021
After a 2-month break, the fabulous ladies of riffing return with a dry as toast Mary Higgins Clark story. And while the movie isn't the kick Lucky Day was, the release still provides plenty of laughs. Plot-wise, apparently, various characters did something to somebody for some reason... I dunno, so many names are bandied about that I lost the plot (MJ even kept count of a couple of them). Thankfully, you'll find silly wordplay, talkative coffee, budget-friendly accidents, and even a callback to a classic Rifftrax short to laugh about, and that's what matters most.

Married Too Young
Release date: September 17, 2021
"He looks like someone put Vincent Price in the dryer" - Bridget
Jackass parents, rash marriages, the doughy guy from Teen-Age Crime Wave, water and antifreeze, Ed Wood dialogue... this movie has it all, including Harold Lloyd Jr. as a mechanic, who marries, then breaks the law, which results in the parents getting a lecture in court, for fun! MTY was rock solid, steady, with big guffaws throughout ("Why pay extra for name-brand Police?" was one of many killer quips), the movie even makes the ladies lose it, as when a character asks Lloyd Jr. "Marriage make you stiff, dreamboat?"

Teenage Space Vampires

Release date: October 22, 2021
"Not Hemmingway's best novel, but I'm interested to see how it adapts to screen" - Bridget upon seeing the title
If this is what happens when Romania and Canada team up, then I say, team away! Boy, you gotta love the acting and the accents, which inspires "Werewolf" callbacks and an SNL catchphrase, "We are from France" - MJ. While it's not B&MJs steadiest - there are lulls - you get enough zingers to make it worth your while. 

Final Sacrifice is referenced, the trauma of Wonder Woman 1984 is revisited and the movie leaves itself open for much teasing - "He somehow got lost without moving" - Bridget, and, "The sound effects are just a Fisher-Price See 'N Say" - MJ.

He Sees You When You're Sleeping
Release date: December 10, 2021
"Meet a young Tonya Harding, she's going to be a handful" - MJ
It's a double scoop of Higgins Clark as mother and daughter team up for this very special 'dead guy helps ice skating kid', Canadian, mobster, Christmas, uh, thing.

Along with the plot n' dialogue (and the inconsistent ghost rules), the cast helps feed the funny ("What happens when you order Rob Lowe on Wish.com"). I also got laughs out of how the ladies try to inject some Christmas spirit into this Christmas movie (like the dogs barking Jingle Bells, lol). Laugh after laugh, Sleeping winds up another hilarious entry in the Higgins Clark cinematic universe.

Children of the Bride
Release date: February 4, 2022
"I knew this movie would blow chunks" - Mary Jo 
MJ complains early about how treacly these movies are, how unlikeable the characters... before admitting to getting sucked in and swept away by the stories, which is more than happens to me, especially for this, the first and the worst of the trilogy. 

I didn't think it was possible to get me to dislike these irksome people more than I already have, but this flick manages the trick - throw in the music by Yanni and, GAAH! Fortunately, B&MJ come to the rescue with their pinpoint, and often silly quipping. The 'old folks" jokes are still funny as hell, and the riff-staple of putting words in character's mouths works exceptionally well here, especially when coupled with cute observations ("Hi kid, have I ever mentioned you have the hair of a Roman emperor?" - Bridget). The movie is insufferable and only through the efforts of 2 of the best Riffers in the business was I able to endure the pain.

Crime of Passion

Release date: May 6, 2022
"Clippy's wish to become a real boy finally came true" - Mary Jo
It's been a while since the ladies gifted us with a feature-length riff, and they make their return in a special way, by tackling another from Mary Higgins Clark. The plot follows the pattern of the previous Clark flicks, you have a soap opera romance, a death, a wife who's hot on the case, suspicions, lies... but while the story is stale, the riffing remains fresh and funny, like when MJ asks, "Do you think there will be a murder" and Bridget responds, "Eh one of us is bound to snap."  Ha! This is a delight and goes well with a glass of Kroger brand cabernet - (good one Bridg).

The Brain That Wouldn't Die
Release date: July 29, 2022
Sophistry, a bain-marie, mad scientist hair (a nod to Dr. Forrester?), these are just some of the riff ingredients to be found in this re-do of a fan favorite flick.

Brains must be hot right now, the Mads tackled this one earlier in the year, and now the ladies take a crack at it - only they brave the whole darn thing, and IMHO B&MJ do better work with their uncut movie than MST did last week on Gamera vs. Jiger... though to be fair, Brain might be failure-proof, as all three versions are successes.

The added fun is that -along with new quips- they each bring their own style and personalities to the party - the Mads are more R-rated and political/topical, B&MJ more playful but still clever ("You could wear a mitten?" - MJ suggests when Kurt complains about this withered hand)

I think MST's take is the gold standard, but there's much to laugh about with this one - whether teasing the eras very large cars, or the movie's saxophone music (Bridget's comment about sinning, lmao), or taking over for the MC and welcoming folks to the "body beautiful pancake breakfast". Ha, so funny.

Plus, I love the poster art, seeing MJ back as Jan in the Pan

Woman Who Came Back
Release date: October 21, 2022
Pinwheels, arthritis and fuzzy shoulder pads are a few of the candy sweet Halloween offerings in this flick about Witch paranoia in a small town. 

So many laughs, most especially with those dialogue additions that are part and parcel of the craft of riffing - I just love how they both alter the intent of a scene, and fully embrace it, with quips that engage the spooky nature of the piece (or not, according to MJ, Woman's a scary movie that's not so scary). There's also the name drops and references (Colleen Hoover, Doc McStuffins, the IT Crowd), and grabby men who condescend to raise the ire of the duo. Despite the holiday darkness ("Oh you know that was pure coincidence." - "Her mother tripped into the woodchipper" - Dr. Adams/Bridget) this is a bright, feel-good release.

I'll Be Seeing You
Release date: March 3, 2023
"Catherine your meatloaf is art" - "And now I'm going to Jackson Pollock the toilet" - Mac/Bridget
Fertility clinics, a missing father and a stalker creep are at the heart of this Mary Higgins Clark mystery. Yes, she's back and that's cause for celebration! By now we know what these movies are all about, and we know what Bridget and Mary Jo will bring to the table... regardless, it's still as joyous as ever. Whether laughing at the silliness and being silly themselves ("Her name was "Boo"" - Bridg) or lusting after a ranch hand (that's so Mary Jo), the duo throw comedy darts that hit the bullseye time and again. MJ, Bridget and MHC are a match made in heaven - IBSY was downright hilarious, and while I want them to tackle other genres and styles of movie, I hope they never abandon this series, it's still so much fun.