This Parody Film Is the Most Underrated Campy ‘80s Movie

What is The Return of the Killer Tomatoes about?

The action takes place ten years after the events of the Great Tomato War of the first film. The Return of the Killer Tomatoes takes in America, where tomatoes were outlawed. The lack of tomatoes has led to illegal activities such as tomato smuggling and creative new ways to interpret classic tomato-centric recipes. Take pizza, for example, where you can order pepperoni, extra cheese, and boysenberry sauce for delivery from Finletter’s Pizza, where we meet Wilbur Finletter (Steve Peace), a great war hero, and his nephew Chad (Anthony Starkethird-person speaking character Jimmy from Seinfeld episode “Jimmy”). Chad delivers pizza to Dr. Gangreen’s house (John Astin) and is greeted by Tara (Karen Mistal), an attractive young woman who claims to be Gangreen’s lover. The truth, however, is a much darker red.

Dr. Gangreen is the mad scientist behind the rampaging tomatoes from the first film and has developed a process where toxic waste and music can turn a tomato into a human copy, intent on taking over the US. Tara is one of those copies, as is his assistant Igor (played by the American Olympic champion in swimming Steve Lundquist). But when Gangreen discards the mutated Fluffy Tomato, Tara comes to his aid, names him FT (Fluffy Tomato) and runs off to Finletter’s Pizza and Chad. They begin a relationship, but Tara is soon captured by Igor and returned to the lab, forcing Chad and his roommate Matt (George Clooney… yes, the same one) to come to her aid. They discover Gangreen’s sinister plan and Chad, believing that Tara has turned back into a tomato, is desperate to get Tara back. But Gangreen and Igor return to the lab, throw Matt and Chad into the dungeon, and crush Tara in front of Chad. But thanks to the heroism of the FT, Matt and Chad are freed, the SWAT team from the first movie is reunited, Tara is found unharmed, and Dr. Gangreen is stopped.

Campy’s “Return of the Killer Tomatoes” is justifiably funny

Insane? Yes. So why give The Return of the Killer Tomatoes chance? For starters, this is really funny. Attack killer tomatoes laughed, presenting the absolute absurdity of his premise. There were tomatoes that attacked and killed. Come back more in the spirit of a standard studio comedy, but there is always something funny happening on the screen. The challenge is to make pizza without using the forbidden tomato sauce. In the background is a TV with a full coverage of the America’s Cup Full Contact yacht race (“It’s the United States against England, a rematch of a great rivalry dating back some 200 years”). The KIGR information van is actually a dump truck. For those who suffer from metamphysomaiophobia (fear of mimes…silent killers), pantomime that won’t go away gets hit in the face. Chad comes to the sobering realization that the beautiful Tara is a tomato…because she’s eating a bag of plant foods. Movie, Mummy Frankensteinplays on TV and relays important plot information over and over until Chad pays attention to it. Come back knows it’s funny and enjoys it.

The elements are also exaggerated, which only adds to the mannerisms of the film. The talents of the beautiful tomato woman Tara are off the charts. In her own words, “I speak excellent English. I also cook 815 international dishes, have 637 sexual intercourses and use all popular household appliances.” Igor Lundqvista is so far from the stereotype that he borders on a parody. This Igor is not a hunchbacked sycophant, but a Greek human god who dreams of becoming a news reporter. Think Will FerrellRon Burgundy mixed with He-Man, minus the blue blazer and shorts (it’s a pity Lundqvist didn’t do any more films - he has real comic talent). Astin, this is Astin. Few actors have ever perfected camp, and Astin is among the best. His Dr. Gangreen is a brilliantly insane, exaggeratedly mad scientist, but holds back just enough so that the ridiculous nature of his insane science doesn’t get too far off the rails. In fact, the only character that isn’t exaggerated to some degree is Matt Clooney, which makes his character even funnier in comparison.

Campy’s “Return of the Killer Tomatoes” is brilliantly satirical

The Return of the Killer Tomatoes also replete with sharp satire. As well as Gremlins 2: New Batch, he uses the platform to poke fun at product placement, rom-coms, merchandising, and more. The film begins with a parody of a local cable show, One dollar moviewith host Bob Downes (Michael Villani) introduction Come back like the movie of the day. Instead it starts to play Girls with big breasts go to the beach and take off their tops, a hilarious riff on teen sex movies. Chad and Tara later have a romantic comedy montage of the song. touch me therewhich has lines like “Boy, I’m glad you’re not tomato paste.”

Halfway through the film, the film breaks the fourth wall as the picture ran out of money. Clooney offers product placement followed by a two-minute dominance game as Matt Clooney and another character (Costa Dillon) communicate exclusively through product placement. Then, throughout the film, placements keep popping up, including a Pepsi billboard at Gangreen’s mansion. The news stories, with, shall we say, additional “facts” to make the story more interesting, are punctuated by televised exchanges between a news reporter and a guest at the restaurant where the tomato was spotted. The reporter scolds the woman (“Do the words ‘fat cow’ mean anything to you?”) until she becomes too “mad” to speak on camera. And at the end of the film, as the hero of the film, FT is praised for his actions, the camera focuses on a little girl holding an FT plush doll, who then turns into a stopper for the FT plush dolls sold in the store. theater lobby (“I love you, FT!”), a merchandising blow that is perhaps even funnier than Mel Brooks“Yogurt promotes Spaceballs merch space balls.

The Return of the Killer Tomatoes will be accompanied Killer Tomatoes Strike Back! And Killer tomatoes are eating France!and Saturday morning cartoon. Since then, the franchise has stalled, though it has survived in comics, homage, and even the April 2023 novelization. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes by author Jeff Strand. Come back is considered the best, the most mature, if you will, of killer tomatoes movies. It’s camp at best, and while you might disagree, remember: Actor, director, Oscar winner, and philanthropist George Clooney is often asked about any missteps in his career. His response is consistent Batman and Robin and not The Return of the Killer Tomatoes. Draw whatever conclusion you want.