Joe Dante directs another movie filled with in jokes and references to old horror and science fiction movies, which is a pretty good reason to watch the film if you're a cult movie fan in the first place. Just spotting all of the visual references passes the time pleasingly enough. There isn't a plot but instead the film is full of gags, which is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact it was a pleasure to watch something different for a change.
Christopher Lee stars in the film, playing a sinister (what else?) doctor, which is another reason to watch it, and he gets to utter some hilarious lines, such as when he receives a parcel; "Oh splendid this must be my malaria!". This is one of Lee's better roles from the period but to be truthful, that isn't saying much. Also on hand are the twins Don and Dan Stanton, who you may remember from TERMINATOR 2, playing two scientist clones. The in-jokes are numerous; Lee appears carrying a pod from INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS; THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS is playing at the cinema. Hulk Hogan, the epitome of all that was wrong with the early '90s, even puts in a guest appearance! Robert Picardo, best known to audiences as the holographic doctor in STAR TREK: VOYAGER, plays an unlikeable businessman who forms an unlikely bond with a female gremlin.
There are a lot of memorable scenes as well, such as when a gremlin is fed into a shredder, causing one hell of a mess! The spider-gremlin is also very creative and well designed, as is the bat-gremlin. Dick Miller, a Dante and Corman regular, puts in a welcome heroic performance as a man on the street who battles the creatures, and Gizmo even becomes Rambo, tying a bandanna around his head after seeing RAMBO : FIRST BLOD PART II on television! There isn't much plot but it's a fun film to watch. Remember, though, kids, that this is primarily a comedy so if you're looking for horror or plot it would be wise to go elsewhere
Christopher Lee stars in the film, playing a sinister (what else?) doctor, which is another reason to watch it, and he gets to utter some hilarious lines, such as when he receives a parcel; "Oh splendid this must be my malaria!". This is one of Lee's better roles from the period but to be truthful, that isn't saying much. Also on hand are the twins Don and Dan Stanton, who you may remember from TERMINATOR 2, playing two scientist clones. The in-jokes are numerous; Lee appears carrying a pod from INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS; THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS is playing at the cinema. Hulk Hogan, the epitome of all that was wrong with the early '90s, even puts in a guest appearance! Robert Picardo, best known to audiences as the holographic doctor in STAR TREK: VOYAGER, plays an unlikeable businessman who forms an unlikely bond with a female gremlin.
There are a lot of memorable scenes as well, such as when a gremlin is fed into a shredder, causing one hell of a mess! The spider-gremlin is also very creative and well designed, as is the bat-gremlin. Dick Miller, a Dante and Corman regular, puts in a welcome heroic performance as a man on the street who battles the creatures, and Gizmo even becomes Rambo, tying a bandanna around his head after seeing RAMBO : FIRST BLOD PART II on television! There isn't much plot but it's a fun film to watch. Remember, though, kids, that this is primarily a comedy so if you're looking for horror or plot it would be wise to go elsewhere