Brain Donors (1992)
Though the title's an apt description of Trump and his entire cabinet of minion ass-kissers, this movie, thankfully, has nothing to do with them.
We've treasured it as one of our long lost, hidden gems and at long last, we're getting around to sharing it with you.
All classic movie buffs who remember and adore the Marx Brothers shouldn't miss out on this one.....it's more or less a modern reboot of an anything-goes, lunatic Marx Brothers movie, loosely inspired by one of their greatest, "A Night At The Opera".
Quite an ambitious idea this was, an attempt to duplicate the rapid fire quips, constant chaos and brilliant inventive physical comedy that became the trademarks of Marx madness.
Does the film really bring all that off? Our verdict.....through most of the film's whirlwind 80 minute running time, yes. Even when it falters a few times and the jokes don't land, it still remains funny as hell.......(and unlike today's movies, it knows not to wear out its welcome with ridiculous overlength. )
Groucho, the chief laugh-getter, is embodied by fast-talking shyster lawyer Roland T. Flakfizer (John Turturro), who's literally an ambulance chaser....(running after one transporting an accident victim.)
Chico, the English-fracturing fake Italian Marx, is now British cab driver Rocco Melonchek (Mel Smith), who cab meter runs faster than Melonchek can spit out his one-liners.
And finally Harpo, the mute, skirt chasing virtuoso harpist, has become Jacques (Bob Nelson) a silent goofball naif with long overcoat and and an endless supply of wordless visual gags.
Naturally, this mighty triumvirate of abnormality needs some pompous, stuffed shirt bigwigs to outrage, confound and mercilessly insult. And the movie does a fine job of supplying them......imperious uppercrust lawyer Edmond Lazlo (John Savident), his wealthy dowager client Lillian Oglethorpe (a more than game Nancy Marchand, channeling Groucho's immortal foil, Margaret Dumont).....and preening, egotistical ballet star The Great Volare (played by real life ballet soloist George De La Pena).
Our mad, mad comic trio manages to motormouth their way into helping Lillian and the enraged, sputtering Lazlo to launch The Great Volare's ballet company. What else can we say.....
Non stop insanity follows, along with a catastrophic ballet performance and possibly a thousand Marx-like gags. (Which we're so very tempted to repeat here but we don't want to spoil anyone's fun in advance.....)
While we always loved this film's commitment to perpetual silliness, we realize this kind of dedicated nonsense is not everyone's cup of mirth....(for newbies to the Marx Brothers, we'd recommend viewing 'A Night At The Opera' first to understand what you're in for.....)
As for us, we laughed through every minute of it, including its wonderfully loony stop-motion animated credits, scored to perfection to Mark Mothersbaugh (famously of Devo).
In these horrific times, with the U.S. in the hands of people who've already donated and lost their brains, feel free to use this movie for a smile-and-laughter refreshment.....4 stars (****).
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