Freaked (1993)

It is tragic that the world has not seen this hyper-comic masterpiece. just about every joke works, and you'll never see better work from Mr. T or Keanu Reeves again. People often go on and on about how many times they can watch airplane or top secret and catch new jokes they missed before. Freaked has that quality in spades. 20th Century Fox really bungled the release of this movie, I think I was one of 100 folks in the world who had a chance to see this in a theater. Anyway, rent it, spread the word. It hasn't become the cult hit it should be, dangit.

Fmovies: Ricky Coogin (Alex Winter) is a Tinseltown brat with two things on his mind: chicks and money. But when he takes a lucrative yet controversial job offer from a partially banned fertilizer company called Zygrot 24, he and his pal Ernie embark to Santa Span and end up the side show attractions in a freak showcase, run by the over-the-top, never-been-better, low-brow, evil scientist Randy Quaid, aka Elijah C. Skuggs.

Mr. T, Brooke Shields, Bobcat Goldthwait, Keanu Reeves, William Sadler, and Morgan Fairchild are just a handful of random stars that shine throughout, with each character coming up with a few very funny one-liners. To watch this movie once isn't enough, for there are so many bizarre and outrageous scenes, that many will go unnoticed while your slapping your sides like a complete idiot.

The brainchild of Winter and Tom Stern, FREAKED is fast-paced, slapstick, in-your-face comedy that delivers with every viewing. The soundtrack is great, especially the opening credits track with Henry Rollins, and the Butthole Surfers remake of "Sweet Leaf," entitled "Sweat Loaf."

Do yourself a favor and watch this film if you want to laugh. Most people who find this film unfunny have serious security issues and a lackluster personality; so keep an open mind, grab a Mountain Dew, and enjoy the grandeur that is FREAKED.

**** out of ****

This movie probably didn't make much but this is funny & stupid at the same time. There are many camoes by famous stars. Keanu Reeves as the dog boy, once again, co-staring with A. Winter from BILL & TED movies. B. Shields appears in a weird role & R. Quaid is hilarious here. There's awesome make-up effects. MR. T in a bizarre role 2. this is a must see who like 2 see cheesy yet funny movies. Plus, 2 my delight, I found out that this movie is in THX. So if u can blast it in your Dolby Digital Surround Sound THX theater system. its a blast.

Freaked fmovies. "Freaked!" is undoubtedly the funniest unknown movie of all time. It could possibly be my all time favorite comedy, and I've seen a lot of them. It is a classic at the house I live in with three other college students; we've watched it countless times and can recite entire scenes from memory.

I can't even begin to name all of the hilarious gags in this film. Stuey falling out of the plane, the "13 milkmen" bit, and the macaroons scene are just the tip of the iceberg. I've probably watched this movie 20 times and I still catch something new every now and then. Usually, a film that squeezes as many gags as possible into every scene ends up with several horribly unfunny jokes. With Freaked, however, this simply isn't the case. I can count all of the jokes that I find even remotely unfunny on one hand.

Seeing Freaked always makes me wonder what Alex Winter is up to now. It's really a shame that he doesn't have movie studios lining up to get him to make more films. There are also great performances from Randy Quaid, Michael Stoyanov, William Sadler, and Megan Ward of "PCU".

If you haven't seen "Freaked", give it a rent (or better yet, buy it online), invite a few friends over, and get ready to laugh. Hard.

The following is the first in a series I shall call: PASSAFIST: The Great Films.

`.Repeat The Flying Gimp Has Been Destroyed, You May Return To Your Homes'

In 1994 I was plagued by the realization that I had not answered the age-old question: `How many feminist does it take to screw in a light bulb?' I figured if anyone could help me out maybe the god of cinema could help me. Unfortunately, all of Buster Keaton's films are silent. Then one afternoon in my television broadcasting class, I stumbled across the answer. I discovered Alex Winter and Tom Stern's FREAKED. The answer to my question and many more were now answered.

Alex Winter (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure) plays Ricky Coogan, a Hollywood action comedy star, sent to Santa Flan (named for the Patron Saint of Creamy Deserts) South America to be the spokesperson for a `controversial new fertilizer called Zygrot-24.' He and His Buddy Ernie (Michael Stoyanov, TV's `Blossom') go there to check it out. There they meet Julie (The Under-appreciated Megan Ward, PCU) an environmental protestor whose come to Santa Flan to `Pelt Ricky Coogan with Cow [Dung].' The three of them meet up with Elijah C. Skuggs (Randy Quaid, in one of the best performances of his life), proprietor of `Freek Land.' And he turns them into freaks. Ricky, Ernie, and Julie join up with Skuggs' other Mutant creations, including a Bearded Lady (Mr. T, `Rocky III'), The Human Worm (Derek McGrath, Inherit the Wind), and Sockhead, the human Sock Puppet (Bobcat Goldthwait, Blow). Also, look and see if you can spot Keanu Reeves (The Matrix Reloaded), I won't even tell you who he is.

This is a great comedy. Sure the plot is paper thin, but like all great silly comedy's this one has real moxie (no, not the drink that tastes like tree bark). Jokes fly left and right and most if not all of them actually work. (Hey Rob Schnieder, watch this movie please!) I especially enjoyed the freaks Hollywood Squares, The origin of the freaky hammer, and finally another age-old question is answered, How many Milkmen can you have on one route? The answer is twelve, now thirteen that's just crazy.

Randy Quaid is incredible in this film. He embodies the villain with such force and style. He plays the character so straight; it's really great. Any lesser actor would have turned him into a cartoon. It's a shame his performance is so rarely seen. It's too bad the film got such lousy treatment from 20th Century Fox. (I say this and I mean it, so don't beat me up) His performance is Oscar caliber, I mean it, I'm convinced it one of the greatest comic performances of the 90's.

Alex Winter and Tom Stern (MTV's The Idiot Box) do a great job keeping the jokes coming. I also likes the small details, the quick jokes you don't even realize you looking at. For instances there is a tribute to Ray Harryhausen, in the appearcence of the Cyclops from THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, followed by Gumby and Pokey well doing something they shouldn't be doing. I didn't realize this until I watched for the third or fourth time. Great Stuff!

But not only that. The film has some really great visual and make-up effects. Screaming Mad George (who made me sick with his hideous make-up effect in Society) ups the ante with his freak make-up. They all look amazing, especially Ricky Himself and Cowboy. Gene Warren JR's (Terminator 2: Judgement Day) visual Effects team also does a bang up

It's a very punk rock sort of film, not unlike something Alex Cox would cook up. This film is essentially an environmentally-themed comedy along the lines of THE APPLEGATES, only this movie is about toxic chemicals and not deforestation (and there is a nice bit about styrofoam). But watching this film made me a bit sad as well, because I realized that Hollywood isn't going to give people the carte blanche needed to realize unique projects like this again during this age of endless remakes and sequels to films nobody liked in the first place.

The digital effects, although over 11 years old as I write this, still look great, and the make-up, especially close to the end, is very inspired, and resembles a live-action Basil Wolverton cartoon. I am eagerly anticipating the DVD, as well as watching Alex Winter's follow-up film, FEVER.