The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark (2007 Video) User Reviews

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[deheor · 8/10 · 8 August 2007]

Three of the minds responsible for one of the funniest shows ever created (Mystery science theatre 3000) return to riffing with this effort that clearly shows they have lost none of their edge.

Bill Crobett, Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy play the challenging roles of three guys named Bill, Mike and Kevin who are 'The film crew'. Their job is to provide DVD commentaries to older films that have none. Unfortunately since the best films already have those tracks they are forced to watch lessor films. Of course that is really irrelevant. The premise just provides an excuse for these really funny men to watch a crappy film and make a lot of hilarious comments.

Their first assignment is 'hollywood after dark' which is a rather dour cautionary tale about how everyone who wants to be a star is doomed. Future Golden Girl Rue McClanahan (yikes!) stars as a dancer/actress who works as a stripper (double yikes!) while waiting for her big break. She meets up with a rather depressing man who runs a junk yard and they fall in love. Of course their happiness is short lived as Rue gets drugged (possibly, its not shown very clearly) and raped while at an audition and the junkman decides to get involved in a crime to raise the necessary money to get them both out of town. There is no shortage of absurdities in this film and the 'crew' never lets any opportunity to mock pass by.

The quality of the jokes seem to be on par with the Mike Nelson years on MST3K. The gags fly fast and furious and although the host segment isn't great, the actual main program is strong enough to justify checking this out. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a long running series of DVDs.

It took Rue McClanahan's death to finally watch one of her early sleazies-Hollywood After Dark-that gets made fun of by "The Film Crew"

[tavm · 8/10 · 3 June 2010]

Because Rue McClanahan died today, I decided to finally watch this sleazy grindhouse fare she made in the '60s, not to dishonor her memory, but to honor that she made it past this period to get great roles in "Maude" and, especially, "The Golden Girls". This is the first time I've also watched "The Film Crew", a post-"MST3K" project created by and starring Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy. They're workers made to comment on bad movies on videocassette by their boss, Bob Honcho, whose voice we hear on the phone while the camera shows his picture. Okay, seeing Ms. McClanahan strip isn't too sleazy here since we don't see her boobs (or any of the other strippers') and they're intercut with audience reactions. It's the story itself that brings some of that vibe. The hilarious riffing concerns the jazz score which brings plenty of name dropping, a robbery when there's no dialogue, and sexual innuendo. The scenes set during lunch break, not to mention the last one with a dummy and an extra about an ode to lunch, varies from pretty funny to not so but they're interesting to watch too. Okay, so by itself, I wouldn't recommend Hollywood After Dark, but with the often-funny commentary, definitely!

The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark... Keep the lights off.

[juliankennedy23 · 7/10 · 23 October 2009]

The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark: 7 out of 10: Since the cancellation of the beloved Mystery Science Theater 3000 (greatest show ever), fans have been waiting for a comeback.

The short-lived Film Crew is just that. Staring Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy (former voice of Tom Servo), and Bill Corbet (former voice of Crow) the Film Crew promises to deliver the old magic back.

In some ways it does. The riffing is certainly up to the old standards. Hollywood after dark is a horrible grainy grind house film featuring Golden Girl Rue McClanahan as a stripper.

The boys riff in vain but honestly, the movie was so slow and talky that there are places where riffing simply does not help the cinematic pain. For example the endless stripper scenes (no nudity and the woman look like Wal-Mart shoppers) provide very few laughs. There are only so many jokes you can make about cottage cheese thighs.

Since The Film Crew is a DVD exclusive creature, they were not restricted in content (unlike the television counterpart). I wish they had experimented on a more adult exploitation film such as one of the Ginger masterpieces. Though claims have been made that their riffing is more adult in nature, I really did not notice despite Hollywood After Dark’s stripper theme.

Had this been a MST3K episode, it would have likely been a middle of the road one. Moreover, truth be told, I miss the robots and the silly sci-fi set-up. The film crew does contain a “lunch break” where the boys engage in some of the most painful comedy I have ever scene. (Admittedly, some of MST3K’s “commercial breaks” were just as painful) The Film Crew is better than nothing, but alas it is a somewhat faded copy of the original’s magic.

"The Film Crew" is the only reason to watch this horrible movie ***Possible spoilers***

[Pandaloonie · 9/10 · 4 September 2007]

This movie was beyond bad; the planks on the walkway had more personality. Were it not for some kind soul defining the "plot" of this piece, I never would have picked it up. That makes this flick perfect fodder for the perfect crew, "The Film Crew." Rue McClanahan - a stripper? A YOUNG stripper? A young NAIVE stripper? No offense to the golden "Golden Girl" but she looks fantastic now - much better now than when this piece was filmed. In short, you get a couple of bad boy "hep cats" who run a bunch of clubs, she (a hired dancer with stars in her eyes) has to shed more and more clothes, her act is "too classy" for the drooling patrons, etc. Girl falls in love with a brooding Shakespearean devotee ex-military underwater demolition specialist who runs a junk yard, add the beach scene from "From Here to Eternity," very stiff dialog, a weak bank robbery scene, a bit of karma for the really bad guys (one kills the other for the money and the survivor bites it in a car crash - we think) and you get really bored really fast.

Enter "The Film Crew." And you know who they are by now. I loved their takeoff of "Charlie's Angels." After the first five seconds of the movie and some witty repartee, you pretty much forget to watch the movie and just enjoy the banter, you can't wait for the next quip.

There are no robots, no crows, no silhouettes but you don't miss 'em. There is a more mature theme with the crew and while it's not X-rated, it's definitely adult. They are spontaneous, they play off each other and it is hysterical. (Loved the lunch meeting.) You will laugh. I'm not that easily entertained but this one did it for me.

Watch it. Be amused. Be entertained. Have a good time.

WARNING: Rue McClanahan stripping with sweaty, naked back. WARNING

[CelluloidRehab · 7/10 · 16 April 2009]

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was a staple for many. When it went off the air, we searched for an outlet. Out of the darkness & rubble, first arose the Film Crew(now defunct) and RiffTrax. Both these endeavors revolved around Mike, Kevin & Bill. This is the first of four movies (picked democratically by the "Internet") the Crew laid track for before disbanding. Honcho Home Video Presentation's motto is "every movie deserves a commentary." CEO, Bob Honcho, has a thing for Golden Girl, Rue McClanahan, so the Crew must do Hollywood After Dark.

The format of the DVD is identical to the other 3. There is an introductory scene with Bob Honcho on the phone selecting the movie, a lunch break in the middle of the movie(where they end up not eating usually) and a finale sketch(in this case the replication of the light bulb strike to the head). As with the other DVDs there is second selection, usually a short vignette. This one is title "Ode to Lunch" where Bill recites a short poem(about lunch obviously).

Unless you have ever thought about what it would be like to see your grandmother in her prime, wearing a bikini or less, don't bother watching this. The only remarkable thing about this film is Rue McClanahan and the possibility that she took this role because she saw something of herself in the character. Don't eat a heavy meal before or any meal while you watch this, as it can prove to be a choking risk.

Locations: A Hollywood junkyard, a Hollywood beach, a Hollywood highway, and a Hollywood set made to resemble your typical international burlesque house & LA lofts.

Plot: Jack Webb lookalike attempts to recruit an ex-navy & hyper-cynical underwater demolition expert, named Tony (the hairy Jack Vorno), for a heist.

Subplot: Rue McClanahan is an aspiring actress who works at Jack Webb's brother's burlesque, to pay the bills. After a confusing transition and conversation with Tony in which Rue explains that there are limits to her stripping, Tony expresses his stark cynicism. Stripping at the burlesque, by the way, is down to underwear and pasties. The only nudity here is Rue's sweaty, bare back (literally, back). Then the date at the beach.

Conflict: Rue meets with a "writer" at his "office"(apartment) to do a "reading." After what seems to be hours, Rue has been drugged(or not) or very drunk(or not) and the writer either makes out with her(or not) or rapes her(or not). Insert fisticuffs. Keep the audience confused.

Conflict resolution: Rue descends into hell as she bares her top for the lascivious W. Hollywood mob. Show Rue's sweaty, back. In the midst of his guilt, Tony agrees to the heist; his share to go to Rue, so they can start over.

Twist: 15 minutes of dialog free "action" followed by double-cross.

Morale: Hollywood will destroy you, first morally and then physically. Don't bother coming here.

-Celluloid Rehab