FATAL INSTINCT - "One Extra-Large Joke" (1993)

This week's Saturday Night Special is a film from 1993 that is a spoof of 80's Film Noir, and a series of one liners, sight gags, jokes, and gigles, and the most special thing about it, is that it works!

 

I find most films like this tedious to watch, but I think it's safe to assume that this film is different because it was directed by supreme funny guy, Carl Reiner, the guy who wrote "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid," and "The Man With Two Brains."

The star of this show is the amazing Armand (Judge Dredd) Assante as Detective/Attorney Ned Ravine.

Ned and his partner, John (Bird) Witherspoon as Arch, are on a stakeout for a robber who wears a stocking over his head.

 

There's a hot pursuit on the Bumper Car ride!

 

This smokin' hot dame named Lola, who always has something stuck to the bottom of her shoe, shows up. The background music is cool, and the cat playing it, is the late Clarence Clemons, who is also in the background.
 

Ned Ravine's wife is having a torrid affair with a younger man. In this scene, after they have sex, they smoke cigarettes without lighting them. Kate (Terror Stalks The Class Reunion) Nelligan is Ned's unfaithful wife Lana, and Christopher (Happy Gilmore) McDonald is her lover Frank.

 

One of my favorite scenes is when Ned has trouble trying to pick out something to wear. Usually his secretary has to help him decide.

In his squad car, Ned has a ceiling fan.

This card from "The Hot Club" was so hot, it was smouldering!

Lola was played by Sean (Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde) Young.

A real mean and vile character named Max Shady who Ned defended in court but lost, is getting out and wants revenge on Ned for losing the case.

Armand Assante might be the star, but in my opinion, Sherilyn Fenn as his secretary Laura Lincolnberry, steals the show.

Sherilyn Fenn is one of those exceptional talents who besides being beautiful, is also incredibly funny, and this film seems made for her. Here she shows Ned the threatening faxes Max Shady is sending him. 

When Laura pulls out a gun, Ned asks her, "Where did you get that from?" and her answer is "My purse." That's the kind of silly stuff you can expect from this movie.

Ned and Laura go out for a drink, and as she dreams about what he thinks about her, he's thinking how stupid she looks with this 'Beer Bimbo" hat on.

Many of the sight gags are subtle, but most of them are in your face!

Besides all that good stuff, there is a plethora of guest stars like Rosie O'Donnell.

When Ned has to defend his wife, there are broadcast announcers in the court, and Bob Uecker calls the play by play action!

 Judge Harlan Skanky is played by the always enjoyable Tony (The Odd Couple) Randall.

When the background music switches from saxophone to trumpet, Ned opens a closet door to find Doc Severinsen sitting in for Clarence Clemons, stating that Clarence had another gig to attend.
 

Even Carl Reiner himself makes a cameo appearance in a urinal scene.

I'd say we could all use a good laugh these days, I found this one on Amazon.

METALOCALYPSE: DETHKLOK / "Snakes N' Barrels" - 2006

Here's one of my favorite episodes because it's pure insanity...

Before Pickles joined Dethklok, he was in a band called Snakes N' Barrels. They gained great notoriety and were on top of the charts.

Unfortunately, there was a problem, booze, cocaine and heroine, and after their success they broke up because of their addictions, basically they could not perform, just be stoned!

The Council is always looking for a way to derail Dethklok, as they are the most famous and rich metal band on Earth. And it's hurting the world economies.

They bring in their specialist on mind control who has a military strength formula called Totally Awesome Sweet Alabama Liquid Snake that will erase the user's mind. They plan on giving it to Snakes N' Barrels (and especially Pickles) before their reunion tour begins.

Pickles has left to meet with his former bandmates to practice before the event, and Murderface is worried that Pickles may leave Dethklok.

Pickles has arrived and it's time to practice their tunes. The other band members are Antonio 'Tony' DeMarco Thunderbottom on bass, Sammy 'Candynose' Twinskins on drums, and Snizzy Snazz Bullets on rhythm guitar. Pickles is the singer and lead guitarist. Problem is, everyone has been clean for years (except Pickles) and can't play for shit!

Tony doesn't even turn his amp on because he doesn't want his electricity bill to go up, and Sammy sits on the bass drum instead of behind it! And boy do they suck!

Pickles copes with the problem the best way he knows how.

Well, it's almost time for the boys to go on stage, and the Council's agent (with fake beard) shows up to give the guys four vials of Totally Awesome Sweet Alabama Liquid Snake.

And, they all take it!!

The band breaks into a very cool tune called "Water Horsey Blues" and they are starting to feel the effects of the drug.

Tony starts seeing snakes coming at him, and starts screaming his head off!

Sammy sees a demon coming for him!

Snizzy thinks he's being attacked by demon babies, he even thinks that he's naked on a light beam, trying to get away!

Tony imagines himself being attack by venomous snakes!

The band members end up with their minds erased, just standing there, drooling.

A double album is produced and it immediately shoots to number one on the charts, leaving Tony, Sammy and Snizzy all with their minds erased!

The other Dethklok members ask Pickles why his mind didn't get erased, and he says it's because he's been doing heavy drugs his whole life, so it didn't have any lasting effects! Just another day in the lives of Dethklok.

DR. PYCKLE AND MR. PRYDE - "Diabolically Hilarious" (1925)

 

A few years ago, I did a write up titled "Over 100 Years of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Variations," but somehow I recently found out that there was a glaring omission from 1925 called "Dr. Pyckle And Mr. Pryde" that starred the phenomenal Stan Laurel, so that's what this Weird Wednesday is all about. 

I don't know why this title card says Mr. Pride instead of Mr. Pryde.

 

It's difficult trying to know about every film ever made, so thank the Lord, I have my editor to root some of this stuff out for me!

For anybody out there who thinks they just couldn't possibly watch a black and white or silent film, this short movie should change your mind real quick. It's fast paced and hilarious!

Julie Leonard is the good Doctor's lovely assistant. Julie started her career in 1921, and has 23 acting credits. This was the second to the last of her films.

When I was first told about this movie, I thought maybe Stan the Doctor would turn into an Ollie Hyde, but this was a solo feature for Stan Laurel. Although Laurel and Hardy did appear together in a film in 1921 called "The Lucky Dog," it wasn't until 1931 and a film called "Pardon Us," that they appeared for the first time together as a comedy team.

 

Fight the Devil, Doctor, you can do it! 

But of course he'll drink it anyway, or we wouldn't have a story!

In this movie, you really get a chance to see another side to Stan Laurel, and the depth of his acting abilities! He was truly incredible!

"Dr. Pyckle And Mr. Pryde" is 21 minutes long, and was shot on the back lot at Universal Studios.

Mr. Pryde reminded me a lot of "The Creep." He's a quite loathsome character who is actually sillier than Hell. In this scene, he steals this kid's ice cream cone. Now that's mean!

 

Mr. Pryde is fairly pleased with himself!

Oops!

For his next stunt, Mr. Pryde pulls out his trusty pea shooter!

Aw, quit your sniveling, it didn't hurt that bad!

After that incident, Mr. Pryde is chased back to his laboratory where he quickly reverts back to the much more pleasant Dr. Pyckle again.

But it doesn't take long for him to get back to his nefarious and devious actions again such as blowing a party blow-out in this woman's face!

Mr. Pryde scares this lady so bad, after he sneaks up behind her, and pops a paper bag! What diabolical act is he not capable of?

Mr. Pryde gets caught when he's trying to hide behind this pole, so he hands this gentleman a gift as a distraction.

The gift turns out to be a dastardly Chinese Finger Trap, also sometimes known as Chinese Handcuffs.

The Chinese Finger Trap dates back to the early 6th century BC, when Lao Tzu, used the device to thwart invaders. They've been sold in novelty shops for years, and still delight kids to this day!

 

After all those horrendous acts, Mr. Pryde must once again revert back his normal dull self.

As the local denizens descend on his doorway, Dr. Pyckle notices that he's starting to change back to Mr. Pryde, but without taking the transformation potion!

Mr. Pryde then turns his attention to his assistant, who promptly hits him over the head with a bottle, and the movie is over!

I highly suggest you take the time to watch this wonderful film from 97 years ago, and to make it that much easier for you, here's one of the places you can see it for free!