Rant: Why A Lot Of Really Bad Movies Are Hilarious Gems

In 2008 just over 600 films that were released. The number of movies released per year has been gradually increasing annually since the beginning of the MPAA. This is of course due to the advancement in filmmaking technology, which allows for faster processing and editing, DVD releases, the growth of the movie industry as a multi-billion dollar business and civilized society’s ever-increasing lust for entertainment. That’s a lot of movies and a MAJORITY of them are crap. The quality bar is constantly being set higher as studios are trying to top one another.  And for a lot of the “straight to DVD” films that never see the light of day, don’t really get noticed, because on the surface they’re seen as awful.  But just because they have terrible acting, ridiculous plots and horrible effects, does that necessarily make them not entertaining?

As a self-proclaimed movie geek and expert, I obviously watch and try to appreciate ALL movies, trying to focus on their intended purposes. I have the diamond package at Hollywood Video and I rent movies often, either to watch by myself or with friends. I usually try to watch new releases by myself, especially dramas, so I can focus and receive the maximum impact of the film, but when I’m hanging out with buddies, HORRIBLE movies are really fun to watch. Case in point will be three films that I’m going to profile: Troll 2, Flyin’ Ryan and Jack Frost. Some of you may be shaking your head because you’ve either  seen or heard of these movies and know they’re “terrible,” or because you have know idea what I’m talking about.

Before I talk about these films, take a look a video I’ve made. It  features clips of the films, highlighting their terrible qualities, so you get a better idea of what I’m talking about. Check it out:

Let’s first start off with Troll 2.I just saw Troll 2 a few days ago while I was pre-gaming with some buddies prior to a night out. It is regarded by most people in the film industry as one of the worst films of all time. The kid featured in the clips actually directed a documentary about Troll 2 called Best Worst Movie, which chronicles the cast’s life 17 years later after being in the “worst movie of all time.” Watch the trailer for the documentary HERE.  Citing some support for my argument that a lot of bad movies are hilarious gems, Troll 2 actually has a pretty huge cult following where the film is screened monthly in Los Angeles, where hundreds of fans  gather to watch this horrible movie and laugh their asses off; a central talking point of the documentary. Read more about the phenomenon HERE. I watched the movie because I’ve heard many things about it’s infamous atrociousness and I had to check it out. It didn’t dissapoint. It. Is. HORRIBLE! Every aspect of Troll 2 is so bad, you can’t wrap your head around how the film was actually made. But there are some scenes, where the acting and makeup is so bad, that it is actually quite funny. I mean, “They’re eating her. Then they’re going to eat me….OH MY GAAAAHHHHDDDD!!” I laugh every time I see that and that is the whole point of this post.

I went to the video store last fall and having seen most, if not all of the new releases, I found myself in the “family section” of Hollywood Video, trying to find a random, dumb movie to watch with my buddies. I stumbled upon a movie called Flyin’ Ryan (photo right). I mean look at that cover. It’s a nerdy kid flying in the air on rocket shoes, with a cute little dog in his back pack, with the tagline, “The sky’s the limit.” I had to rent it. From what you’ve seen in the clips I provided, it is absolutely horrible. So horrible in fact, that when I checked it out, the guy at Hollywood said that I was the first person to ever rent it. And it had been in stock for about five years.

I brought it back to my fraternity and I watched it with four or five of my good friends and it was hilarious. I mean, why the hell was there a karate master teaching in the park? And was it really necessary for him to jump over that motorcycle? And at the end, the bully says, “I’ll get you next time. Kapiesh?” LOL! That is so bad, but so funny.

It’s not a movie that I’ll probably see again, but it was a hysterical 90 minutes with my friends, as we reminded the most outrageously dumb scenes over and over to process what we just saw.

I don’t have any sort of special connection with the last featured bad movie, Jack Frost, but I saw it when I was in high school with some of my buddies and it is so stupid, it’s hilarious. Really? A killer snow man? That’s pretty funny. And I didn’t realize it until I was putting together those clips that it was Shannon Elizabeth that Frost was raping in the bath tub, which makes it all the more funny. I’m not saying rape is funny, because it is not, but when a snow man melts, seeps into a bath tub as water and re-forms to attack his victim, it’s pretty damn funny. Especially with the horrific makeup and costumes where you can clearly see her arms stuck in the Styrofoam snow man. Again, not a movie I’ll probably see again, but when the new releases were slow, me and my buddies took a chance on Jack Frost and had a blast watching the awfulness.

Now, many of you may have lost respect for my film opinion or think that I’m a total idiot for liking these movies, but I must clarify that I don’t. These movies are terrible. They are awful. They are abominations of film. But again, that doesn’t make them not enjoyable. These movies serve two purposes: 1) They make you appreciate films of average quality much more  & 2) They can serve as a great time for you and your friends as you make fun of their awfulness. Next time you’re at the video store and there’s no good new releases, you have nothing to do and you’re with a few friends, check out these flicks or any other movie that you’ve heard is “the worst movie ever.” You might be surprised at the good time you actually have.

What Do You Think? Discuss.