Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988) User Reviews

Return of the Killer Tomatoes!: Misses its mark but still entertains

[Platypuschow · 6/10 · 29 September 2017]

1978's Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes was an unexpected cult gem that despite looking ridiculous actually managed to entertain with it's Naked Gun (1988) style humour.

With the sequel set a decade later and following on from the events of the first I expected more of the same so was disheartened to see they had gone in a different direction.

The style of humour is the same though not as quickfire, but the content simply isn't Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes! Instead of rampaging killer vegetables we instead have a sinister plot that involves Tomatoes in human form.

Starring the original Gomez Adams John Astin and a young George Clooney this silly but still likable comedy doesn't provide the laughs alike the original but still has enough about it to be entertaining.

You may have to wade through some unfunny stuff to get to them but the jokes are there and most are delivered by Clooney who demonstrates once again that he has a natural affinity for comedy.

It's hard to believe this franchise was born at all let alone that it spawned 4 movies across 3 decades and even a television show!

The Good:

George Clooney is hilarious

The Bad:

Doesn't have the novelty value or charm as the original

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Big Breasted Girls Go To The Beach should have been a real film

Anchovies go great on pizza with gummy bears

Rasberry Jam Calzone should be a thing

A teddy bear yelling rape is one of the most traumatising sounds imaginable

I want a FT doll

If the movie was remade the confederate flag would probably not be on the good guys uniform

Big Breasted Tomatoes go to the beach and take their tops off should also have been a real film

"She's sexy, she cooks, she cleans... I think you've found the perfect woman." Mildly entertaining comedy spoof.

[poolandrews · 4/10 · 22 February 2006]

Return of the Killer Tomatoes! starts as it means to go on with a silly film-within-a-film gag about it being the one dollar movie of the week on a cheap cable TV station. Once the film begins proper it seems that Professor Gangreen (John Astin) is experimenting with splicing human & tomato genes & has created tomato people, or at least I think that's what's happening. One such tomato person is his good looking assistant Tara (Karen Mistal) who dislikes the way he treats her fellow tomatoes & runs away, she ends up at pizza delivery guy Chad Finletter's (Anthony Starke) shop because he is the only other person she knows. They become romantically involved but the sinister Professor Gangreen sends his tomato person servant Igor (Steve Lundquist) to find, capture & return her. Oh, a young looking George Clooney is here as Matt, Chad's best friend just to make the film even more bizarre.

Co-edited, co-starring, co-written & directed by John De Bello I thought Return of the Killer Tomatoes! was an OK comedy spoof that you simply can't take seriously. The script by De Bello, Stephen F. Andrich, Costa Dillon & J. Stephen Peace moves along at a fair pace & has plenty of cheap gags the best of which are centred around some tacky & blindingly obvious product placement, a trend that was becoming popular in films at the time this was made, the fact that tomatoes are now illegal & have to be smuggled into the country like drugs & the shortest car chase in cinema history. A lot of it is pretty much hit & miss, you'll either end up in stitches rolling around on the floor or you'll be sat there stoney faced. Personally I found a few scenes mildly amusing but I thought much of the comedy here was far to predictable, silly & juvenile to be effective. Also forget about any literal killer tomatoes because there aren't any as the film focuses on Tara & her adventures in the real world of which she had no knowledge of before, at heart it's a fish out of water tale with the hapless Chad bailing her out of trouble. At the end of the day I found it an acceptable way to pass the time, nothing more.

Director De Bello doesn't do much & as a whole Return of the Killer Tomatoes! is a rather bland & forgettable film throughout. There are flashbacks to the original Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978) to save money while he goes for zany comedy rather than bother with unimportant things like a story.

Technically Return of the Killer Tomatoes! is OK at best but nothing spectacular. It's competent but nothing more. The acting isn't up to much & it really is strange to see such a young George Clooney pre-stardom in such a, well lets be kind & call it a unique piece of film-making.

Return of the Killer Tomatoes! is OK if you liked films such as Airplane! (1980), Top Secret! (1984), The Naked Gun (1988) & Loaded Weapon 1 (1993). Watchable if your in the right mood. Followed by a further two sequels, Killer Tomatoes Strike Back! (1990) & Killer Tomatoes Eat France! (1991) both of which were directed by De Bello who seems to enjoy making films about tomatoes a little too much, he must have a giant tomato fetish or something like that...

"Do we have enough money to finish this turkey yet?"

[gridoon · 5/10 · 23 January 2002]

This sequel to "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" has actually very little to do with it. It's also a much better film. It does get a bit too juvenile for its own good toward the end, but it's entertaining (at times), with bits of surreal humor, jabs at moviemaking itself and decent acting. Half the time you'll be laughing, the other half you'll be looking at your watch. (**)

Made me laugh so much I had a side stitch

[DarthBill · 22 April 2004]

Picking up a couple of years after the original, tomatoes are now banned - which has ruined the pizza industry - and the unseen mad scientist who chalked up those giant killer tomatoes in the first film, Dr. Gangreen (John Astin) is up to his old tricks again, only this time he's using music to make tomatoes into people, and depending on the type of music being played, that determines who/what the tomato becomes. Playing sexy jazz music produces sexy blond tomato women, playing Salsa music produces Carmen Miranda, playing Church music produces the Pope, playing pop produces either a pre-white Michael Jackson look-a-like or a Don Johnson look-a-like, or if you play rock music, you get big, burly military tomato men.

As Charlton Heston's character from "Soylent Green" would say: "The killer tomatoes are PEOPLE!"

Our hero, Chad Finletter(Anthony B. Starke) falls for the attractive one time tomato Tara (Karen Mistal). Unfortunately, Tara can be changed back into a tomato whenever she hears a certain musical chord.

Full of gags (like the aforementioned multiple musical interpretations of a tomato) that include a prison dividing its cells between "Really bad guys" and "former political aids", the mime stalking Chad & Tara during their musical montage dating sequence, pot shots at how films have to feature tons of marketing in order to have a budget to get made, pot shots at bad movie marathon hosts and game shows, and let's not forget MY personal favorite, the talking teddy bear that calls out for help when Rock Peace tries to smother it. Film also features a more coherent "plot" (as it were) and served as the blue print for the animated series that later aired on Fox Kids.

Keep an eye out for it. George Clooney makes his film debut as Chad's friend and pizza co-worker Matt.

Silly doesn't automatically mean funny

[TheOtherFool · 3/10 · 22 April 2004]

This movie is trying so hard to be silly it isn't fun any more. And I love silly movies (Toxic Avenger for example), but this one was a major disappointment.

Story involves mad scientist who re-introduces killer tomatoes (from the first movie, which I haven't seen yet), in the form of humans like 'Tara', who main character Chad falls in love with.

Whole movie consists of silly jokes, which more often don't than do work, with the whole 'we need money to make a movie so let's use product placement' thing as a huge downer. Maybe the joke is fun for like a minute or so but to use it throughout the second half of the movie... it was wearing really thin.

The makers of this movie tried to get away with the 'we're spoofing and hailing bad movies so we're making one as well' attitude, but there are tons of 'better bad movies' you can see. Not even (very!) young George Clooney can save it, so skip this one...

3/10.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the produce aisle

[ironhorse_iv · 5/10 · 7 May 2013]

The Killer Tomantoes are back and honestly this is one of my favorite stupid movies. I think this was honestly, better than the Original movie 1978's Attack of the Killer Tomantoes. It's works as a parody of the real threat of Communism. It also spoofs old monster movies such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). The running gags are just over the top fun. I like the silly product placements, the secret word game show, and everybody liking Full Contact America's Cup Yacht Racing. The sight gags, sound gags, satire and clever humor all works here. There is a lot of catchy quotes in this film. There is only a few jokes that hit rock bottom for me. Director John De Bello made the sequel to a campy cult-classic, better than ever. De Bello even pokes fun at the movie, themselves, as he breaks the fourth wall to reveal the cheapness of the production on several occasions. The low-budget can be a bit disappointing like showing old footage from the first film way too much. Not only did De Bello renew the inane humor of the original, but also bring in new kooky characters to work with some of the original cast. The hilariously off-beat performances of all those actors account for much of the film's success. Professor Gangreen (John Astin) and his weather-man wannabe dumb hunky assistant Igor (Steve Lundquist) are just some of the new characters in the film. Their goal is to transformed simple tomatoes into vicious Rambo look alike tomato-men in another evil attempt at world domination! It is up to a new group of heroes to stop Professor Gangreen before the streets run red with the Red Meance. That group is a group of pizza makers, Matt (George Clooney) and Chad (Anthony Starke) who works for their Uncle Lt. Finletter's no-tomatoes pizza parlor (Steven "Rock" Peace reprising his role from the original movie).This was George Clooney's first full length film and compared to the first killer tomato movie, the acting is pretty darn good throughout. Still, I kinda get confused if I'm watching George Clooney here, or John Stamos. They look very similar to each other at the time. They uncovered Gangreen's scheme, when Chad meets Professer Gangreen's assistant Tara (Karen Mistel) who escape from his hide out with a fuzzy tomato, or FT for short. Karen Mistal is very hot and stunning. She gives off some pretty good humor parts as well. He soon find out that there is something about her that doesn't add up. Can the group save the world from Professer Gangreen and his armies of tomato-men? If you didn't like this movie, well I feel sorry for you. It's just fun mindless comedy horror flick. The point of the film is be off the wall stupid film. So it's hard to criticize a film for that. It's suppose to be cheap, dumb, and cheesy. If you don't like it, maybe Big-Breasted Girls Go to the Beach and Take Their Tops Off will be your type of film. If you do like this movie, make sure to watch the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series. If you haven't saw this movie. Go watch it and make some toast, eggs, bacon, toast, waffles and toast with it.

a slight improvement on the original

[disdressed12 · 5/10 · 26 March 2011]

i found this sequel to Attack of the Killer Tomatoes to be a slightly better movie.for one thing,it's high energy and not boring.plus,the music in this one is actually not annoying.however,i still didn't think it was funny at all.some of the gags are just too stupid too be funny.but that's just my opinion.again,i wouldn't watch it again in a long time.it wasted just over an hour and a half when i had nothing else to do.again,it's all about the novelty factor with this one.there's a third one entitled Killer Tomatoes Eat France,which is likely more of the same,so i'll be skipping that one.for me,Return of the Killer Tomatoes!is a 5/10

Surprisingly good

[menwhats · 7/10 · 27 February 2001]

This film ranks up there with the best of the spoof movies, such as Naked Gun, Airplane!, and Top Secret! I rented it as part of a bad horror movie marathon, along with Leprechaun in Space. It has some of the funniest moments I've ever seen in any movie. The running joke about the film's low budget was one. Also, the fight in the bar made me laugh hysterically. Why did the fight occur? I have no idea! Keep in mind that I don't enjoy this movie on a campy, b-movies-are-cool level. I regard this movie on a One of the Funniest Movies Ever Made level. George Clooney has large hair and does a pretty good job. Also, look out for Rick Rockwell, TV's Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire? millionaire in one of his rare movie appearances! He plays a shady villain.

For film viewers like me who insists on torturing themselves.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 24 July 2022]

Yes, cheaply made gets points taken off because the film looks like it was made with the cheapest video equipment, even worse than the most painful TV sitcom. Then it loses points for juvenile humor, the type of comedy that even kids wouldn't laugh at. Add in bloopers such as George Clooney tossing up pizza dough, and walking away, and the pizza dough never comes down. Shots of San Francisco identify it as New York, an obvious intentional blooper made to comment on alleged rivalry between the big cities of opposite coasts.

But the main reason this tomato stinks like ketchup on pasta is the fact that it just isn't funny. All of the humor is forced, and things that it tries to spoof are done in ridiculous ways. When John Astin can't even get a giggle (returning as the mad scientist from the first film), there's definite problems.

But the real reason this ranks as a near bomb is simply because not only is the comedy unfunny, but after a while it really is just painful. Did someone actually think while watching this in the screening room that audiences would laugh like they did with "Airplane! And "The Naked Gun"? Then there's the premise of the film being showed as the dollar movie and interruptions from a TV broadcast of it, equally painful. Send this tomato to the corn field on "Hee Haw" so it can be used as fertilizer.

Highlight of the Series

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 10 February 2008]

Years after the original batch of evil tomatoes was destroyed by the song "Puberty Love", a new batch has been created -- a batch that can be transformed into a humanoid appearance, to blend in with the human population. Wilbur Finletter, the original hero, returns as his nephew unknowingly falls in love with Tara, a tomato and the girlfriend of the evil Dr. Gangreen.

While there's something to be said about sequels not being able to surpass the originals, I find this to be an exception. The humor is campier, and the jokes are lamer. But for some reason, I really appreciate it. The visual gags are stepped up to the level of "Airplane!" or some Mel Brooks movie and I do not think this one should be neglected. Even in the beginning when clips are shown from the first movie, the clips are well chosen to really bring out the funniest and most important parts, adding something to the new saga.

The original film was actually a student film at UC-Davis, and was redone in 1977 as what we know today. That could have been the end of the series, but by early 1980s home video came around and gave the original a new lease on life and a sequel was inevitable... this time even produced by New World (who had no input). The bar was set higher (or lower) and they succeeded.

George Clooney appears. Actually, he more than appears -- he is on screen more than just about anyone. This is before he was big, and he has a long-haired look as though he was auditioning for the part of Jesse on "Full House" (but I guess he lost to John Stamos). Clooney is very lovable in this film, pulling a Charlie Sheen act of women-chasing that suits him well. There is something funny in retrospect about him running a "Meet Rob Lowe" contest to meet women, when now (2016) the women would much rather meet Clooney than Rob Lowe (though Lowe has come back in the last few years).

Some of the jokes are more subtle, at least as subtle as a film like "Killer Tomatoes" can be. Take, for example, the Oliver North Federal Prison. At the time, this was probably pretty funny. Today, the audience who "gets it" will be much smaller (they'll say "Isn't he a commentator for Fox News?"). And there are plenty of sex jokes, but despite their prominence I never felt the film crossed into the childish realm of "gross-out" humor. Even the nudity was more or less tastefully done (I expected much more).

For me, the scene (or scenes) with the product placement running joke are among the funniest. We get the characters to break the fourth wall, we get some slight jabs at low budget film and consumerism... and just in general the whole concept is funny. Some have pointed out that the gag was stolen by "Wayne's World"... how much this film (or "Wayne's World") were actually paid by the companies they use in the joke remains unclear.

If you liked the first film, I cannot see why you would not love this. And if you grew up with the cartoon, you will want to see this film since this is the one the series was based off of. I have yet to see "Killer Tomatoes Eat France", but I think it is safe to say that "Return" is the high point in the movie series.

As always, the best way to see this film is on the blu-ray released from Arrow Video. Besides the priceless audio commentary with creator-writer-director John DeBello, there are also TV spots and other promotional items. Anthony Starke provides a nice interview concerning how he got involved and the use of product placement. Clooney, unfortunately, is not interviewed, but that is not really a surprise. Stephen Peace, a series regular, is also not interviewed, most likely because he went on to be a notable California politician of all things.

Need more tomatoes action

[atinder · 4/10 · 9 November 2014]

I found it's take a while for anything to really happen, I was not laughing at this movie as much as I though I would.

This did have a bigger budget and the acting is better in this.

The down side to this was there was no tomatoes,that actually killed people.

Was that why the first was so much more fun? , I didn't mind the plot, tomatoes turning into people sounded OK.

The other thing that really annoyed me was that, when the same person keeps falling down, it's funny the first few times it happens, But every times the person on screen, it just milked it dry.

4 out of 10 for this movie, first was fun, this one I found some- what boring, as there was not much tomatoes action.

A truly excellent comedic spoof.

[iainsmith · 10/10 · 29 September 2001]

If you expect a serious movie you'll be massively disappointed. If, however you're expecting a comedic spoof that doesn't take itself (or it's prequel) seriously then you're in for a wild ride. It's almost worth watching just so you can admire George Clooney's 80's mullet. There's little plot, but instead there is a series of imaginative scenes which can really make you laugh (so long as you don't try and take the movie seriously). Heartily recommended.

Really funny movie.

[nhlgumby · 7/10 · 11 January 2002]

*Spoilers at the end*

I really wish I had seen the original movie before this one, but I saw this movie for sale, and I just had to get it, knowing the reputation of the original. And I gotta say, I laughed my buttocks off watching this movie. Everything about this was hilarious. The beginning with "Big Breasted Women Go to the Beach and Take Their Tops Off" the movie, and how the movie treated itself like it was a piece of crap. And I love the interruptions in the middle of the movie, like when they were showing clips of the first movie and people called in complaining that this wasn't really a new movie, all they did was recycle the old one. And I love when the director has to stop the movie to tell everybody they were out of money, and so they started the product placement. That had to have been the funniest thing I have seen in a couple of months.

I can't understand why this movie has such a low rating, I loved it. I am a huge advocate of terrible B-Movies and that was what I expected to see when I watched this. A terrible B-Movie, but I got so much more. I actually laughed at their jokes, I enjoyed the plot, and I believed the actors, no matter how goofy they were at some times. The only part about this movie (and I know it is supposed to seem like this) that I really did not like, was the end. I really do not like anti-climaxes, and I did not like this ending. When F.T. jumped onto the grenade and blew up, I really wanted him to stay dead for two reasons. I SAW him get blown up, and I SAW him blow up into pieces. He should not have survived. But, that wasn't the full end. I actual end was where all the tomato clones went down to the beach and took their tops off... What an ending. Great movie, deserves more credit than it was given.

I can't recommend it

[ericstevenson · 4/10 · 12 September 2016]

The last scene of "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes!" showed killer carrots about to come up and attack. Here, they are nowhere to be seen. Why not? It's not like this was intended to be a film series that lacked continuity. We see the same footage from the original film so it's obviously a direct sequel. Another annoying thing is that we get another poster that depicts the tomatoes as having faces when we get none of that in the actual film again! There's a scene where Professor Gangrene is putting a face on something, but it's a Mr. Potato Head toy. Was that supposed to be a joke about the poster?

This is believe it or not, George Clooney's film debut. I love how the one question on this very website is asking if Clooney also apologized for this film. "Batman & Robin" at least had a high budget and some semblance of a plot. The best part here is probably how they set it up in the beginning. The fourth wall jokes actually get pretty annoying. In one scene, the Professor says that this is real life, despite the fact that everyone is referencing how this is a movie! I was expecting at least more tomatoes to appear. If sequels don't escalate, they should at least stay as big as they were before. The original film at least has its originality. Was this the time spoof movies started sucking? At least we later got "Naked Gun!". *1/2

Funny, but where's the tomatoes?

[ashspicefilms · 20 July 2000]

Being a huge b-movie fan, I had to see this movie. It is VERY funny and entertaining and still a b-movie even with a larger budget, but the only footage of tomatoes moving and attacking people (the best part of the original) is taken from the original "attack" film. Here instead we got tomatoes that look exactly like people. But when you buy an "attack of the killer tomatoes" movie that shows a giant killer tomato attacking on the cover, you expect to see a giant killer tomato attacking in the movie! John Astin as Gangreen was funny, but I like the original movie's reason for tomato attacks. In the original, man altered tomatoes to make them better but accidently gave them the ability to grow and attack people.

In this movie that is all ignored and now the killer tomatoes were made by a evil professor in his basement.

I think the original plot AND movie are much better, but this films is still very funny in it's own way. And I am surprised it got away with many of the raunchy jokes while staying PG.

Recommended if you want to laugh.

The Best Thing George Clooney Ever Did

[blurnieghey · 1/10 · 9 February 2020]

This movie is probably the best thing George Clooney ever put his name on. Actually, it's the only one of his movies I've ever bothered to watch and, seeing as all his other stuff looks even more lame than this piece of trash, can only assume it's the best thing he ever did. So what's wrong with movie? Pretty much everything. It's one of those movies that is knowingly low budget and stupid and somehow that is supposed to be funny, but it isn't. Or maybe they knew the thing wasn't funny and that, in and of itself, was supposed to be funny? Well, that might almost be funny but this movie still sucks. It's pretty much one boring, lame gag after another, not so bad it's good, but just bad and feels like it drags on forever. I pretty much felt the same way about the previous film and I might be able to state that part two succeeds in being even more boring and corny than part one, as if that is any sort of accomplishment. Like I said, this is the best thing George Clooney ever put his name on.

The girl who played "Tara" was cute, though. She's a nice-looking 80's babe and the only thing worth looking at in this boring piece of junk.

Better tomatoes for a new invasion.

[michaelRokeefe · 3/10 · 5 May 2007]

A slightly larger budget allows for tomatoes to be turned into people. Professor Gangreen(John Astin)has finally developed the formula to make the once feared red vegetable to look human. And once again it is San Diego that will see the beginnings of a second invasion. A young pizza maker falls in love with a gorgeous girl working with Gangreen. Is she really a tomato? Music will serve as a catalyst instead of a destroyer with this newer developed tomato. Citizens are reluctant to believe the ancient attack of the tomatoes will be repeated. This sequel is really easier to watch than the original; thanks to a young George Clooney and a beautiful Karen Misal. Also in the cast: Steve Lundquist, Teri Weigel, Anthony Starke, Rock Peace and Charlie Jones.

Distant cousin to Batman & Robin

[SkullScreamerReturns · 5/10 · 17 October 2020]

When I was a kid in the turning of 80's and 90's I remember hearing about Killer Tomatoes at school. The first movie had come a decade earlier but I'm guessing they were talking about this sequel that was quite new at the time. But I never managed to see any of these films. They weren't as popular and easily available as Ninja Turtles. More like something along the lines of Critters which I also knew existed but didn't see the movie. A couple of years later came the cartoon series of the tomatoes and I liked it. But all these years and still having not seen the movies...

Well, I happened to see the second part now. It was a pretty funny comedy spoofing everything from Godfather, westerns, and of course horror films. But what I was disappointed is that I expected a horror comedy with killer tomatoes. But there wasn't any horror and pretty much no killer tomatoes either. Well, there are tomatoes but they're more like a sidenote and a threat that hangs over the situation but there's no real tomato-action. Even Ghostbusters is a scary movie compared to this.

Highlights: John Astin as the mad scientist. I liked him in the Addams Family series and have never seen him in any other role, but he's great here too. Secondly, George Clooney too is in his element in this movie. He must have enjoyed liked making it. When Batman & Robin was new I only knew Clooney from that hospital drama series that older ladies watch, but now I know why he wanted to star in the corniest of Batman movies. It's the same kind of tongue in cheeck humor in this movie as well.

The movie is a bit too long for this kind of silly comedy, and like said, I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't really what I expected. But those good actors give it a lot of redeeming quality. Recommended for fans of crazy b-movies and spoofs - but don't expect anything else but comedy.

Humanoid Tomato Warriors

[Uriah43 · 4/10 · 24 September 2018]

This film essentially begins with the actual creator of the killer tomatoes (from the last movie) named "Professor Gangreen" (John Astin) determined to continue his attempt at nothing less than world domination. But this time he has improved upon his research and now has a technique which can turn ordinary tomatoes into humanoid warriors. In addition to these tomato men warriors he has also created a beautiful assistant named "Tara Boumdeay" (Karen Mistal) who obeys his every command. But that changes one day when she discovers Professor Gangreen attempting to destroy one of his tomato projects. Because of this she runs away to be with a young man by the name of "Chad Finletter" (Anthony Starke) who works in a pizzeria for his uncle "Wilbur Finletter" (J. Stephen Peace) who happens to be the hero of the previous "Tomato Wars". And then the action really begins. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film was much better than its predecessor due in large part to the improved humor and somewhat imaginative plot. Likewise, having an attractive actress like Karen Mistal certainly didn't hurt either. Unfortunately, the low-production values inhibited this film to a certain degree and because of that I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.

Squish!

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 7/10 · 28 August 2017]

Being as old as I am I can remember when the original ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES was released. Not so much in theaters as on video tape. I'm not sure if it played many theaters, then again it could have hit the midnight movie circuit. In any event, it was hilarious by being intentionally low budget and glorying in that format. It became popular enough that a sequel was bound to happen. Who would have thought that it would have George Clooney in the second lead role though? Mad Professor Gangreen (John Astin) is planning a produce protest, an herbal uprising, a tomato tornado…in short he is planning on having the tomatoes once again attack the world. Using music he can change tomatoes into various human forms. One of those is Tara (Karen Mistal), a ripe tomato turned into a gorgeous human who isn't pleased with the way Gangreen treats her fellow veggies. She runs off only to meet our hero, Chad (Anthony Starke) and fall in love.

After Gangreen sends his assistant out to capture Tara and bring her home, Chad and his best friend Matt (Clooney) attempt to thwart the plans of Gangreen. Discovering that certain songs change the tomatoes back and forth, he's heartbroken when one song turns Tara back into a tomato. Finding the right song to change her back he and Matt do their best to stop Gangreen and his 'mato minions.

The movie not only uses its cheesiness to its advantage it grasps it with both hands and strangles every single joke possible out of it. It basks in the glory of being a grade B movie and relishes in that format, playing on words and situations that mingle vegetables and humor for some decent laughs and a lot of fun. This isn't Oscar material and all involved know that. Instead it embraces the genre it is a part of a goes for all it can.

The acting isn't amazing but well done by all involved. I'm not sure this is one that Clooney is proud to have on his resume but he should be. It displays his ability for comedy long before he was able to put it out there for fans to enjoy much later. The rest of the cast might not have achieved near the stardom but they all put forth a great effort here. Astin, most famously known for playing Gomez Addams in the TV series THE ADDAMS FAMILY, does a great job here as the mad scientist intent on overtaking the world. He would continue to play the character in the next sequel as well as the animated series based on the films.

Even though this film is not the type to receive a ton of respect it gets it in spades here from Arrow Video. Like all of their other releases their offering it in the best presentation possible with a 1080p blu-ray copy. The extras aren't abundant but the odds of those even being available are small. Included are brand new audio commentary with writer/director John De Bello, a brand new interview with Stark, the original theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin and a fully illustrated collector's booklet featuring writing by critic James Oliver.

If you remember the films from your days at the video store or maybe from the animated series then odds are you'll enjoy this one. Fans of Clooney looking to make their collection complete will want this one as well. It's a fun time that has been given a new life thanks to Arrow Video.

Tomato, with lots of cheese and ham.....

[FlashCallahan · 4/10 · 22 August 2014]

Professor Gangreen is cooking up the Great Tomato Uprising, in which music converted tomatoes into human form to war against mankind.

Pizza delivery man Chad Finletter must save the world and beautiful tomato-girl Tara.....

The problem with this film is that it tries way too hard to be intellectual, and to further it's self away from cheap exploitation.

The fact is, no matter how many times you break the fourth wall, or kill the product placement joke to death, you cannot get away from the essence of Troma that the film wreaks off.

The actors are great, Clooney was always going to be famous, and the other chap will always be the whining accountant who gets killed by Sanchez in Licence To Kill.

It's just the idleness of the whole thing, trying to be an adult orientated comedy, but having that weird furry tomato whom is obviously going for the gizmo look, because kids, they love the merchandise don't they?

It loses it's way toward the end of the second act, so they up the ante on sight gags, and more product placement, and fail, miserably.

It's a car crash movie of the highest order, you know you shouldn't watch it, but you can't take your eyes of the blasted thing.

At least the pizza dough comes down at the end....

Cult Classic Continues...

[overkill-6 · 10/10 · 9 April 2001]

...excuse the excessive alliteration. A sequel (of sorts, though they change the entire plot) to the original "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes," this film absolutely screams "80's"...the music especially. That said, sure, it's silly, it's plot-deficient, it's over-acted...but it's SUPPOSED to be! The movie constantly makes fun of itself as it runs. ("Hey, has there been a chase scene in this movie yet?")

A young, big-haired George Clooney delivers dozens of one-liners perfectly [this is not a big surprise, actually], the visual jokes are a riot (the overdone "product placement" is brilliant, especially considering its juxtaposition with the completely silly "fight scene" featuring cowboys, ninjas, bikers, and a really bad impersonation of Muamar Ghadafi), John Astin's totally-over-the-top "evil doctor" character is so deliberately bad it's good, the little sideline parodies are excellent (Oliver North Federal Prison? Full Contact America's Cup Yachting?)...good stuff all around.

Oh yes, and it's also one of the very few films to feature the gorgeous Karen Mistal. (I've spent some time trying to figure out what she supposedly did with a lawnchair, six milk bottles, and a tuning fork...)

It also features a quick cameo by lingerie-clad Teri Weigel, who went on to star in quite a few other movies...though most of them aren't exactly rated "PG," if you catch my drift.

silly irreverent fun

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 24 August 2015]

Parachutist Wilbur Finletter is a national hero after defeating the Killer Tomatoes. Congress bans tomatoes and Wilbur opens his own pizzeria serving tomatoless pizzas. His nephew Chad Finletter is the delivery boy working with his womanizing friend Matt Stevens (George Clooney). Mad scientist Professor Gangreen (John Astin) and his assistant Igor are perfecting the transformation of tomatoes into human form. A mutant fuzzy tomato is thrown out which is rescued by a tomato of a girl named Tara. She calls it FT (fuzzy tomato).

It's fun. It's irreverent. It's silly. It takes the original's ridiculousness and makes a good camp movie. It starts with the late night TV show introduction. The use of the original's footage gives a sense of the style. There is a young Clooney although he was a nobody back when I first saw this. In all honesty, I can't claim to have foreseen his future success. It's not big laughs but there is something enjoyable about this light romp.

Funnier than it has any right to be..

[snesgirl · 10 October 2003]

I had fond memories of the cartoon, but realised that I'd never actually seen the movie.

This is a perfecly silly, intentionally cheesy, 80's classic. The premis is so silly and everyone involved (especially Clooney) is so obviously just having FUN making it that the humour is just utterly infections.

The knowing looks at the camera. The exaggerated dramatics. The tomoato transformation effects. FT!!!!

I LOVE this movie and heartily recommend it as a classic "B" movie.

You cannot beat this film for a silly giggle. All those po faced people who claim its not amusing need a humour transplant.

all together now.. (sings) "When Big breastd giiiiiiirllllllllS, go down to tthe beach....!"

Tacky 80s comedy horror starring George Clooney's hair

[rooee · 5/10 · 21 July 2016]

Part Two of the infamous comedy horror series is the best one insofar as it's the least bad. It was made in 1988, ten years after the ultra-low budget original.

Anthony Starke is very game in the role of Chad Finletter, nephew of Wilbur (Steve Peace), hero of the Great Tomato War of '78. Chad works in his uncle's pizzeria – where tomato coverings are now outlawed because they're evil – along with his buddy Matt (a magnificently mulleted George Clooney).

Meanwhile, gene-splicing Professor Gangreen (John Astin) is creating an army of tomato people, hoping to conquer the world. One day one of his creations, Tara (Karen Mistal), escapes and seeks sanctuary in the arms of Chad. Gangreen sends his henchman Igor (Steve Lundquist) to retrieve her. Chad and Tara fall hopelessly in love, but Gangreen will stop at nothing to retrieve his test tube babe. Chad, Tara, and Matt must band together, along with Chad's uncle and his troop of weirdos, to defeat Gangreen and save the world from the "red menace".

You might as well skip the dreadful first movie because we get a full recap here. Return is far more watchable thanks to a vaguely coherent script and less of a chaotic sketch show structure. Most of the best stuff happens early on, where there's a ton of fun in Tara's fish-out-of-water flailing bumping up against Chad's bumbling charm. And there's great bro-chemistry between Starke and Clooney.

The film is pure spoof, falling somewhere between the Mel Brooks and Zucker brothers camps: the fourth wall-breaking elements of the former and the cringeworthy puns of the latter. (At one point a character opens a China closet… and finds the Great Wall of China inside.) It's not upper Zucker by any means, but somewhere around the Top Secret range in terms of gag hit rate.

There are also countless references to horror film contemporaries. We get a bit of Weird Science; the mad lab of Reanimator; the gene-mashing horror of The Fly; and the dead-eyed hottie-on-the-loose of Frankenhooker. It's all powered by some fantastic synth-rock music which doubles down on the echo-snare. Plus a Bacharach-styled ballad as the lovers prance on the beach whilst being bothered by a creepy mime.

Eminently good natured and low on gore, Return emphasises the comedy over the horror, making it more accessible than its title suggests. There really isn't much killing at all. The problem is that, beyond the first act, it's not consistently funny either, so as far as cultdom goes it is niche. Set expectations to moderate though and it's a fun, screwy ride.