The Scarlet Claw * Magnetic Monster * Inspector Mom * The Man Without a Body * The Careless Years * Try to Remember * Inspector Mom 2 * Blood on Her Hands * Crime of Passion * Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear *
Release date: March 24, 2023
While I've enjoyed the recent string of MHC movies, what joy to have B&MJP return to the world of Sherlock Holmes (after a 3-year break from them). This is one of the better flicks from the Rathbone - Bruce run, and one of the ghastliest (though not visually graphic) and sorrowful tales.
But fear not, the ladies bring the spirit of laughter, noting, for example, that this Canadian based tale is populated with non-Canadian ventriloquists. There are also funny pop culture references, from Bridget's "Marshes, marshes, marshes", to Mary Jo responding to a scene by adding that it had, "Real irony, not the Alanis Morrisette kind". Funny as those are, I think the quip of the hour was the line... "Scenes of Holmes undressing and bathing Watson omitted out of sheer human decency!" which not only broke me up, but MJ as well.
The Magnetic Monster
Release date: April 5, 2023
"Is this movie basically a podcast?" - Mary Jo. Why yes, yes, it is. MM is a talky little piece, with no real physical monster and probably not much budget to show one anyway (the special effects footage at the end comes from the 1937 German film GOLD). It stars Richard Carlson of Tormented and Creature from the Black Lagoon fame, and the women seem happy to see him. There also a Maniac (Bridget just can't stop singing that song) and a refueling scene... so if you didn't enough of that in Starfighters, here you go.
Despite the dryness of the picture, it's not a hard watch or a bad riff, especially when the duo tosses in several hysterical observations, like when Bridg asks, "What's safer than an old mine?" Or MJ notices that "Thomas the tank engine has had too much Botox".
The biggest laugh I received came at the close, as all hell breaks loose, and we see magnetized objects flying through the air - which prompts Bridget to add... "Next, the janitor with the plate in his head will come zipping by." 🤣
Inspector Mom
Release date: June 16, 2023
It's Higgins Clark-lite and as irritating as the "of the bride series", but all that dumb n' irritating leads to a lot of laughs. Danica McKellar stars, and of course there's a Wonder Years quip, but even funnier was when they reference "Small Wonder".
Release date: April 5, 2023
"Is this movie basically a podcast?" - Mary Jo. Why yes, yes, it is. MM is a talky little piece, with no real physical monster and probably not much budget to show one anyway (the special effects footage at the end comes from the 1937 German film GOLD). It stars Richard Carlson of Tormented and Creature from the Black Lagoon fame, and the women seem happy to see him. There also a Maniac (Bridget just can't stop singing that song) and a refueling scene... so if you didn't enough of that in Starfighters, here you go.
Despite the dryness of the picture, it's not a hard watch or a bad riff, especially when the duo tosses in several hysterical observations, like when Bridg asks, "What's safer than an old mine?" Or MJ notices that "Thomas the tank engine has had too much Botox".
The biggest laugh I received came at the close, as all hell breaks loose, and we see magnetized objects flying through the air - which prompts Bridget to add... "Next, the janitor with the plate in his head will come zipping by." 🤣
Release date: June 16, 2023
It's Higgins Clark-lite and as irritating as the "of the bride series", but all that dumb n' irritating leads to a lot of laughs. Danica McKellar stars, and of course there's a Wonder Years quip, but even funnier was when they reference "Small Wonder".
So yeah, they twist the dialogue (a knee injury preventing a couple from having a child) and tease the music ("if Danny Elfman had composed the Law-and-Order sting.") and come up with funny nicknames (Dollar Tree Patrick Swayze) - all their classic moves, and as funny as hell.
The Man Without a Body
Release date: July 14, 2023
The Careless Years
Release date: August 4, 2023
Inspector Mom 2
Release date: December 1, 2023
Blood on Her Hands
Release date: January 12, 2024
Release date: July 14, 2023
"Pay no attention to the agonizing monkey screams you're about to hear" - MJ
I agree with Mary Jo that this one of the stupidest movies ever made... the plan to use Nostradamus's brain to save a man's life makes little sense, it does however, make for funny riff material. While I wouldn't call this an upper-level release, there are good laughs throughout, and once the head shows up the absurdity of that, the visuals, kick things up a notch - and the final act? Yeah, sometimes all you can do is giggle ("He looks like he's going to be in a play about tooth decay" - Bridget).
Quips about MyChart and a nod to MLBs new pitch clock - the monkey head scene, a not-very subtle metaphor, and of course, a couple of nods to Jan in the Pan are among the highlights. Oh, and Jason Martian's poster art is a winner.
Quips about MyChart and a nod to MLBs new pitch clock - the monkey head scene, a not-very subtle metaphor, and of course, a couple of nods to Jan in the Pan are among the highlights. Oh, and Jason Martian's poster art is a winner.
Release date: August 4, 2023
Arthur Hiller (Love Story) directs, Dean Stockwell broods, and Barbara Billingsley frets over her hormonal teenage daughter. Smells like teen angst and boy does it drag - (the ladies don't let it off the hook for that, "The Shackleton expedition didn't take this long", says MJ). All this squishiness invites some bawdy riffs (teen girl - "I feel the same as you do" / Bridget - "Blue balled?") I really enjoyed it and the references and call backs ("Gentle pressure") - steamy dressing room scenes and punchy dads help too. (BTW, you might recognize Norman Ollestad from Ring of Terror, as a classmate (and note passer).
Try to Remember
Release date: October 20, 2023
"Oh, she just got laid off from the movie" - MJ
Boilerplate Higgins-Clark, that at times, just makes the ladies laugh at all the silliness (the revenge board's a hoot). Despite this being the duos 6th go at a MHC movie, there's still life in these tired tales (like the therapist, who's incredibly lax about patient confidentiality), and plenty to enjoy.... or be irritated by (the constant 'drip, drip, drip' sound).
Release date: October 20, 2023
"Oh, she just got laid off from the movie" - MJ
Boilerplate Higgins-Clark, that at times, just makes the ladies laugh at all the silliness (the revenge board's a hoot). Despite this being the duos 6th go at a MHC movie, there's still life in these tired tales (like the therapist, who's incredibly lax about patient confidentiality), and plenty to enjoy.... or be irritated by (the constant 'drip, drip, drip' sound).
Bridget and Mary Jo's riffing continues to be delightfully offbeat (a Civil War memory) full of funny references (Inspector Mom; that weird ginger, Carrie) and cute twists (making themselves the prime suspects in the killings).
Alas, this is the end of the line, no more movies from Mary, no more B&MJ making mirth out of love and murder... well, at least not from this series. It was a hell of a run and loads of fun.
Release date: December 1, 2023
Maddie Monroe is back in Inspector Mom: Kidnapped in 10 Easy Steps. MJs early line about the shoes, followed by Bridget's, "a little something called implausibly", sums up the detective work and the screenwriting in a nutshell. The ladies draw humor out of that, and the mom stuff (the hilarious bit about 'macing children", and Bridget having Maddie abruptly end an important call from her boss by saying... "my kids are malfunctioning"). There's also a running gag about how the husband is named "Craig -slash- Terry".
This is also the first time I've ever heard the term, "bust a grumpy". I had to look it up and I'll just say, B&MJ are both educational, and gross -lol- BTW, according to IMDB, while they didn't film a third movie, there was a TV series, could Maddie make her return to Rifftrax in that form? Hope springs eternal.
Release date: January 12, 2024
Lady Mobster was one B&MJs personal favorites, so it's no surprise they'd have another go at Susan Lucci. In this flick, Susan plays a Femme Fatale, which puts the duo in a naughty mood, what with all her affairs and multiple husbands (a simple "Next" was one of the more amusing, and on point quips) - in addition there are musical impersonations, a slapstick cop, and a sex pass to laugh about. A silly good time was had, it made for perfect weekend viewing.
Crime of Passion
Release date: February 23, 2024
Release date: February 23, 2024
One of the best casts the women have riffed on, led by Barbara Stanwyck, who plays a manipulative ex reporter, trying to give her unambitious cop husband a career push. Directed by Gerd Oswald (Agent from H.A.R.M.) and It's a decent movie, but there's still much to play around with (see MJs droll observation, "Your most boring telephone conversation reenacted by Hollywood stars!") There's the time and era, the fashions and whatnot, and the anachronisms are a kick ("I love Dagon Ball Z" -and- "Truly amazeballs", lmao). Their personal lives enter the picture as well (Mike's Rifftrax speech to Bridget) - References are a blast (Dennis Haysbert, Godzilla, and Bridget's response to the line, "I have a little woman..." Jo March). So, there's a variety of cleverness - the only negative is that either me or the riffing lost a bit of steam down the end. A rewatch would clarify which, but for a first viewing, 2 out 3 winning acts aint bad.
Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear
Release date: April 19, 2024
Release date: April 19, 2024
"Sherlock Holmes.... of Rifftrax fame" - Simpson/Bridget
Based on the story, "The Five Orange Pips" ("and still no Gladys Knight" - MJ) but retitled to the sensationalist "The House of Fear", though Mary Jo's suggestion "The House of Sassiness" is even better. Holmes and Watson tackle a mystery concerning the deaths of a group of friends, deaths that are signaled by envelopes filled with pips. The arrival of the morose maid tickles the ladies, chair needles made for some fun as did serving Simpson for dinner - all told, a decent visit with Holmes, though not the best of the series.
