Review By John Delia
The finale of Time Warp gets into the nitty gritty of campy comedy that dominated in the 50’s-80’s with some of the greatest movie brains changing the content of films that have survived at midnight and on VHS/DVD. Whether it’s teens in school, nerds in college, or music for the young people of America the team of Joe Dante, John Waters, Ileana Douglas and Kevin Pollak have you covered.
It’s a look back at one of the most iconic times in history that filled the theaters with acne faced kids and apprehensive parents who were experiencing the baring of the beat generation. Until you get to the 2nd half of this film where it gets a bit serious.
Starting out of the gate with one of the most “revealing†films Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the X rated film took the generation by storm combing sex and comedy to start a cinematic revolution. Add titles like Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds, Porky’s, Clerks and other language/flesh/drug content films, and the theaters were taking in millions. Underage teens and preteens were buying tickets to one auditorium and then slipping into an R rated for a look at their future coming of age.
The films in this category had most of the same audiences at the horror genres of the previous two volumes of Time Warp, but with this one it started a significant beginning of a new freedom for the generation. Instead of digging up dad’s Playboy magazines, they could actually see their dreamy bare chested guys and gorgeous girls in colorful widescreen Cinemascope.
The movie may not be exactly the way I describe it above, but most of the readers can probably relate with similar reactions. From Valley Girls and Rock and Rolla, to King Pin, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Monty Python, even Showgirls it’s instant Déjà vu. It was their time for an experience watching campy and comedy turned cult of an X, NC-17 or a hard R rated movie.
Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time Volume 3Â Comedy and Camp has not been rated by the MPAA for obvious reasons. That being the content, although scenes from movies, keeps nothing hidden including language, nudity, drugs and sex. If wanting teens to watch the film, think a rating of R.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A well-made finish to a great idea to revisit America’s movie past. (3.5 out of 5 stars)
Additional Film Information:
Hosts: Joe Dante, John Waters, Ileana Douglas and Kevin Pollak
Cast: Gina Gershon, John Cleese, Ron Livingston, Jim Gaffigan, Fred Willard, Jon Heder, David Cross, Mary Woronov, Michael McKean, Kevin Smith, Amy Heckerling, Mike Judge, Peter Farrelly, John Cameron Mitchell
Directed by: Danny Wolf
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 2 hrs. 08 min.
Opening Date: June 23, 2020
Distributed by: Quiver Distribution
Released in: VOD, Digital HD