Featured VOD Review: MST3K: Season 11, Volume 3
November 26, 2017
MST3K: Season 11 - Watch on Netflix: Video on Demand
I haven’t reviewed all of the MST3K revival show and it has been a while since I last reviewed the show. However, this weekend was the perfect weekend to finish season 11 for three reasons. Firstly, I have nothing else to review. Secondly, the Christmas episode is part of the final five episodes. And finally, Netflix announced this week that season two is on its way. Yes! Do the final five episodes of season 11 give us hope for season 12? Does the season end on a high note? Or are we going into season 12 hoping this season was just the creators finding their footing?
Back-to-back fantasy “epics”. I’m lumping them together, because they are technically sequels. Although they really have nothing in common outside the genre tropes and name. ... and the low quality. Both follow a young man, who travels with a mentor, to find the magic artifacts needed to defeat a great evil. However, the two movies don’t share any of the cast, characters, or even writer or director.
The show starts with Max writing in his diary about his love for Kinga when he discovers a robot monster in the ceiling. ... You know what, it doesn’t make sense at the moment, so just go with it. The first host break has Jonah and the robots discussing how Kor could have earned the title Conqueror, since it clearly was due to his combat prowess. The second has Jonah singing about sorcerer puberty. The third host break has fan art, which isn’t funny, but sweet. Finally, Jonah and the bots play in a Wizards of the Lost Kingdom playset.
The second episode opens with the invention exchange and it features PUNT BUNNIES!!! I want one. The first host break has Jonah giving tips how to run a successful fantasy inn. Next up is a sampling of wizard comedy performed by Jonah. The third break includes a visit from Grandma Pearl, Professor Bobo, and Observer. In this segment, we learn Kinga is planning on getting married as a ratings stunt. Finally, Jonah tells us what good movies to watch to counteract the effects of a bad movie.
I’m of two minds when it comes to these two episodes. On the one hand, both films are prime MST3K material and are filled with bad acting, cheap effects, and nonsensical plots. On the other hand, I think having them back-to-back is too much and the second one losses steam. The first one is excellent, I’m just saying the second probably would have been better on its own.
The movie is about a traveling carnival, specifically a magician who has real powers and a talking chimpanzee, named Alex. He becomes very popular, but a rival act, an animal trainer, decides to kidnap Alex and sell him for medical experiments. Also, the daughter of the carnival owner, Ellen, goes on her first date.
After a parody of Ted Talks, Kinga announces she’s marrying Jonah. This is the first Jonah is hearing about this. The first host break makes fun at just how bad the “star” attraction is. The second host break has the bots pretending to be cops dealing with incomprehensible CB jargon. Mark Hamill has a guest appearance as Phineas Tiberius Mindslap, the ringleader of a space circus. The show ends with Jonah and the bots watching a parade with Kinga and Max as announcers.
This episode is a bit divisive. I’ve seen many people call it their favorite, or among their favorite episodes of the revival, while for many it is among the weakest. Personally, I think it is more or less average for the season and the show as a whole. The riffing is good, but I prefer the bigger Sci-fi / Fantasy epics films to whatever Carnival Magic is. It’s not really a drama or comedy. It’s not action or adventure. It just is. I will admit, if MST3K did nothing but the bigger Sci-fi / Fantasy epics, it would grow tiresome and the variety is appreciated, it just isn’t my favorite genre for riffing.
Santa Claus visits a lawyer, Sam Whipple, who once sent him a thank you letter and saying if Santa was ever in need to feel free to ask for help. It turns out the North Pole has a new landlord, Phineas T. Prune, and he’s threatening to evict Santa for back rent. Phineas T. Prune says he’ll forgive all of the debts, if Santa promises to stop giving toys to children during Christmas.
After failing to sing Christmas carols, there’s a Christmas invention exchange with Jonah showing off the regifter, while Kinga and Max show off a device that can filter out Christmas music. The first host break has Jonah and the bots critique toys made by Santa. The bots are scared of the toys in the toy store and Jonah tries to come up with non-scary back stories for the toys. The show ends with a Christmas Montage.
There are some who unironically love this Christmas movie. All I can say to that is, “Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.”
The final episode is the second Doug McClure / Edgar Rice Burroughs team up. This time, Doug and his scientist friend try to dig a tunnel through a mountain and end up at the Earth’s core. It’s very similar to The Land that Time Forgot, which is both a blessing and a curse.
It’s Kinga and Jonah’s wedding day, much to the dismay of Max. In the first host break, Jonah gives the bot a steampunk makeover. In the second break, Crow pretends to be a Maher. “Screech.” The third break has Joel McHale playing Doug McClure giving Max some romantic advice, so really bad advice. Finally, it’s the big wedding, which I won’t spoiler.
Because this is the second Doug McClure / Edgar Rice Burroughs, it doesn’t feel as fresh and that hurts the riffing. On the other hand, I really like the wedding plot. This is something that just couldn’t be done in the original run of the show, as those episodes were written to be watched in any order. It helps this season stand out more.
If you look at the full season of MST3K on Netflix and compare it to the previous show’s run, it could look like a weak season, or a strong one, depending on your point of few. In my opinion, the best episode is Starcrash (reviewed here) but I don’t think it is in the top ten for the show’s entire run. It might not be in the top 20. That’s not good news, as on average is should get one episode in the top ten. That said, the worst episode from this show’s run is The Loves of Hercules, but it wouldn’t be in the bottom 10 of the show’s run. In fact, I don’t think it is in the bottom 50. The consistency this season is amazing. I can’t wait for season two of the show to begin.
The Movie
The Verdict
Filed under: Video Review, Mark Hamill, Doug McClure, Joel McHale, Patton Oswalt, Bo Svenson, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jonah Ray, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett, Felicia Day