It is a general rule in the movie business that once you find a project that is successful, you try to find a way to capture that magic for another potential windfall. This basic business philosophy is never going to go anywhere because, for every ten failures, there is one huge success that gives studios the false confidence they will be the ones to crack the code for a box office hit. Spurred on by the success of his cultural touchstone The Kentucky Fried Movie in 1977, director John Landis thought it might be fun to return to the sketch comedy format that worked so well a decade later. Due to his filming obligations with Three Amigos, Landis split the directing duties on this new project with four other very talented filmmakers: Joe Dante, Carl Gottlieb, Peter Horton and Robert K. Weiss. The result was 21 inventive, silly and crass sketches that were brought together as Amazon Women on the Moon, a film in the guise of a bonkers late-night viewing experience gone haywire. Universal was so baffled by what to do with this film that they saved the money it would take to properly release it and sent it to home video where it gained quite the cult reputation. Over thirty years after its release, it is now getting the love and care it was never shown before.
With the film being that of the sketch comedy variety, there is not really a strong throughline to try to tackle for a critical evaluation. All you need to know is that everything cooked up by these outrageous talents ties into the randomness one experiences when you explore the late night television airwaves. The first sketch with Arsenio Hall sets the zany tone for the proceedings, as the nearly wordless Hall struggles to survive clumsy mishaps in his apartment to increasingly more ludicrous levels. From his tie getting caught in the garbage disposal to a bookcase falling over on him (complete with a human-shaped cutout), Hall offers up a masterclass in physical comedy. The steamy side of the late night experience is well represented as Carl Gottlieb directs Penthouse model Monique Gabrielle in a send-up that has her going about her life in the most liberating of ways. The exploitative nature of her sequence can be cringey, but the deadpan comedy gold that is wrought from it makes you forgive it for being a teen boy’s fantasy come to life.
As is to be expected with a project like this, not all of the sketches knock it out of the park, but the good far outweighs the bad. Ideas such as “Silly Pâté” may make you groan, but then you get something inspired like B.B. King giving a public service announcement for “blacks without soul” featuring Don ‘No Soul’ Simmons (David Alan Grier) and all is forgiven. Grier is in the mode that made him such a standout on In Living Color in this short, recurring segment. Henry Silva (Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai) almost steals the movie as the host of Bullshit or Not?, a show that will have you questioning if Jack the Ripper was the Lochness Monster. Most of these sketches are not most high-brow, but that is part of the charm. This is quintessentially 80s in the best way; the film can be a bit offensive, more than little crude, very slapsticky, and just out-and-out dumb a lot of the time. I would be lying if I said it did not have me laughing pretty consistently, though. A very simple sketch that might rank as one of my favorites is when the son of the Invisible Man (Ed Begley Jr.) looks to have some undetected fun despite having some issues with his formula. It is so very obvious, but it had me laughing loud enough to scare my dog.
Amazon Women on the Moon recruits some impressive names from the time period to participate in the fun including Michelle Pfeiffer, Rosanna Arquette, Steve Guttenburg, Kelly Preston, Joe Pantoliano and even the one and only Carrie Fisher. It is Fisher who sends the film out on a hilarious note in the black-and-white Joe Dante-directed skit in which we explore the dangers of “social diseases” from the reckless youths. The great thing about having such a variety of directors tackling the project is the all of the creativity you see on display. All of the sketches weave together perfectly, but the directorial flourishes each man brings to their stories is apparent in the technical details. The film was made for peanuts, but it never looks cheaper than it is supposed to. Amazon Women on the Moon is a film that deserves better than being the tiny cult oddity that has kept it off so many radars for so long. This is a film bursting with creativity from some of the sharpest minds of the time period. This is a movie that will keep you laughing pretty consistently, and if you ever get bored you are only a couple of minutes from a different sketch. With a brisk running time and plenty of talent in front of and behind the scenes, this is one to add to your watchlist.
Video Quality
Amazon Women on the Moon gets a beautiful upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a 1080p transfer in the original 1:85:1. The transfer provides nice, natural film grain absent of any noticeable compression artifacts or other such damage. This disc also beautifully represents the varied landscapes and inventive production design that runs throughout the film. Although the shorts are meant to be of varying quality due to the subject matter of the film, every segment looks as wonderful as it possibly can. There are some nice, vibrant colors that bring a real warmth to the film, from the colorful outfits of the Amazon women to some of the production details in the “Video Pirates” sketch. Skin tones look natural, and the presentation offers up deep black levels. There is also a noticeable uptick in detail that should please fans of the film. Subtle details in the multitude of settings stand out more than ever before. This film has never looked so amazing on home video.
Audio Quality
Kino Classics brings this Blu-Ray to consumers with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that is worthy of praise due to its reverence to the original intent. The dialogue holds up quite nicely, coming though clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. Being an ode to the charms of channel surfing, the track is able to nicely incorporate some subtle environmental activity based on the setting. The movie sports a score from Ira Newborn that sounds great and ties the project together. This is a track that represents the film in a very satisfying way. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historians Kat Ellinger and Mike McPadden give a lively and informative commentary track in which they discuss the history of the film, the groundbreaking nature of certain comedic bits, the way in which certain segments did not resonate as much outside of America and so much more. This is a fun supplemental listen.
- Bullshit or Not – The True Story of Amazon Women on the Moon: A newly-made 24-minute retrospective on the film featuring Director John Landis, Director Joe Dante, Co-Editor Marshall Harvey, Casting Director Julie Selzer, and Actress Belinda Balaski reflecting on the film. This gives you a great breakdown of how the film came together, stories about what it was like shooting the film, reflections on the legacy of the film and more. It is especially wonderful to hear such detailed stories from Landis and Dante.
- Reckless Youth Dailies: Twelve minutes of raw footage from the segment starring Carrie Fisher.
- Reckless Youth Deleted Scene: A quick minute-long scene featuring an off-color joke with the great Carrie Fisher.
- Roast Your Loved One – Rip Taylor Deleted Act: A four-minute extended look at Taylor’s roast from the film that shows how quick and witty he was.
- Roast Your Loved One – Jackie Vernon Deleted Act: A four-minute extended look at Vernon’s roast from the film that is very dry but amusing.
- Roast Your Loved One – Henny Youngman Deleted Act: A five-minute extended look at Youngman’s roast from the film.
- Outtakes: Six minutes of material from the film that could not be used due to laughter, flubbed lines, rogue props and more. There are some solid laughs in here.
- Deleted Scenes: Nearly twenty minutes of scenes not used in the movie. The footage is comprised of the original opening from Amazon Women on the Moon (Directed by Robert K. Weiss), The Unknown Soldier (Directed by Peter Horton), a deleted scene from Roast Your Loved One (Directed by Joe Dante), The French Ventriloquist’s Dummy (Directed by Joe Dante), deleted love scene from Amazon Women on the Moon (Directed by Robert K. Weiss), and Peter Pan Theatre (Directed by Carl Gottlieb). These are worth watching for those who enjoy the film.
- Trailers: The original minute-and-a-half trailer is provided that plays with the offbeat nature of the film by playing up the ridiculousness. This disc also features trailers for I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Mafia! and Oscar.
Final Thoughts
Amazon Women On The Moon is pure, unfettered creativity from some of the most talented people from the 1980s. Not every sketch is a winner, but the ratio of good to bad ones leans heavily towards the funny. If you give yourself over to this endeavor, it will bring about so many big laughs. Kino Classics has done a top-notch job with this new Blu-Ray that sports a stellar A/V presentation and some incredible special features. If you are a fan of 80s comedy sensibilities, do not sleep on this one. Recommended
Amazon Women On The Moon is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.