Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988) Reviews

• Made me laugh so much I had a side stitch

  DarthBill2004-04-22

  Picking up a couple of years after the original, tomatoes are now banned - which has ruined the pizza industry - and the unseen mad scientist who chalked up those giant killer tomatoes in the first film, Dr. Gangreen (John Astin) is up to his old tricks again, only this time he's using music to make tomatoes into people, and depending on the type of music being played, that determines who/what the tomato becomes. Playing sexy jazz music produces sexy blond tomato women, playing Salsa music produces Carmen Miranda, playing Church music produces the Pope, playing pop produces either a pre-white Michael Jackson look-a-like or a Don Johnson look-a-like, or if you play rock music, you get big, burly military tomato men. As Charlton Heston's character from "Soylent Green" would say: "The killer tomatoes are PEOPLE!" Our hero, Chad Finletter(Anthony B. Starke) falls for the attractive one time tomato Tara (Karen Mistal). Unfortunately, Tara can be changed back into a tomato whenever she hears a certain musical chord. Full of gags (like the aforementioned multiple musical interpretations of a tomato) that include a prison dividing its cells between "Really bad guys" and "former political aids", the mime stalking Chad & Tara during their musical montage dating sequence, pot shots at how films have to feature tons of marketing in order to have a budget to get made, pot shots at bad movie marathon hosts and game shows, and let's not forget MY personal favorite, the talking teddy bear that calls out for help when Rock Peace tries to smother it. Film also features a more coherent "plot" (as it were) and served as the blue print for the animated series that later aired on Fox Kids. Keep an eye out for it. George Clooney makes his film debut as Chad's friend and pizza co-worker Matt.

• Funny, but where's the tomatoes?

  ashspicefilms2000-07-20

  Being a huge b-movie fan, I had to see this movie. It is VERY funny and entertaining and still a b-movie even with a larger budget, but the only footage of tomatoes moving and attacking people (the best part of the original) is taken from the original "attack" film. Here instead we got tomatoes that look exactly like people. But when you buy an "attack of the killer tomatoes" movie that shows a giant killer tomato attacking on the cover, you expect to see a giant killer tomato attacking in the movie! John Astin as Gangreen was funny, but I like the original movie's reason for tomato attacks. In the original, man altered tomatoes to make them better but accidently gave them the ability to grow and attack people. In this movie that is all ignored and now the killer tomatoes were made by a evil professor in his basement. I think the original plot AND movie are much better, but this films is still very funny in it's own way. And I am surprised it got away with many of the raunchy jokes while staying PG. Recommended if you want to laugh.

• Funnier than it has any right to be..

  snesgirl2003-10-10

  I had fond memories of the cartoon, but realised that I'd never actually seen the movie. This is a perfecly silly, intentionally cheesy, 80's classic. The premis is so silly and everyone involved (especially Clooney) is so obviously just having FUN making it that the humour is just utterly infections. The knowing looks at the camera. The exaggerated dramatics. The tomoato transformation effects. FT!!!! I LOVE this movie and heartily recommend it as a classic "B" movie. You cannot beat this film for a silly giggle. All those po faced people who claim its not amusing need a humour transplant. all together now.. (sings) "When Big breastd giiiiiiirllllllllS, go down to tthe beach....!"

• A truly excellent comedic spoof.

  iainsmith2001-09-29

  If you expect a serious movie you'll be massively disappointed. If, however you're expecting a comedic spoof that doesn't take itself (or it's prequel) seriously then you're in for a wild ride. It's almost worth watching just so you can admire George Clooney's 80's mullet. There's little plot, but instead there is a series of imaginative scenes which can really make you laugh (so long as you don't try and take the movie seriously). Heartily recommended.

• one of my best b-movie ever seen

  eigil7072001-06-18

  ok, this is a b-movie, and there is best to see, but this one has something peculiar, between a monty python's "stupidity", and the american way of filming... you know that's gonna be plotless, but you see that the crew really enjoyed making this movie with an accurate sense of causticity. there are plenty of allusions(ex: rob lowe, bikini girls...) its construction shows self-criticism, their play is really dumb, but it has a way of making it for pleasure. it has a lot of funny innuendos. its the best films of the serie... this film is considered as a cult, in its way, like the "horror picture show', and you'll understand afterwards why clooney likes to play the clown, when you see his filmography..but he's not just the only interesting actor of this movie ( ;o) ) the best thing is to see it with friends and drinks & foods (try to make a pizza without tomatoes but with pineapples & tunafish). enjoy! :-p