Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind

Saw this short back in the early 80's, and loved it! (still have it on an aging VHS after taping it from TV way back then...)

My brother and I still quote from it to this day!

A brilliant parody of "Close Encounters" and wonderfully silly. Great "bad" acting throughout, and you won't be able to hear the that five tone alien greeting without a grin after this...

A couple favorite quotes:

(after seeing the number 3.14159 being repeated on the computer screen) "It just keeps saying the same thing....huh...it just keeps saying the same thing!" "Wait! I was a mathematician before I became a bad actor, that number is pi!"

"hmmmm..this means something..."

Much as I love "Close Encounters", this group of actors has put together one of the best parodies of any movie that I've ever seen. To do this they use music, sound effects and the marvelous voice talents of Corey Burton and Sandy Stotzer, who are eerily adept at doing Hans Conried, James Mason, and other famous actors, as well as the majority of the voices we've all known and loved on Rocky and Bullwinkle. I had to check the credits to make sure it wasn't Hans Conried I was hearing.

Not a movie but a short, "Closet Cases" royally skewers CE3K. It's 20 minutes of running time follow the movie plot, but there's an ingenious bit about Pi, which the Bureau of Listening to Things from Outer Space had been receiving in a "Message from the Martians" ("I was a scientist before I became a bad actor. I know what that message means!"). Sara Lee pastries is also involved in the plot, as are CE3K's shaving cream and mashed potato's ("It's a message from outer space, Gladys, right here on our dinner table!"), and a child's backyard pool is used in a pretty inventive manner. The ending also uses a symbol from CE3K in a very ingenious way.

This is difficult to find (the cable channels used to show it in the very early 80's as filler), but if you look for "Hardware Wars and Other Satires," which was put out on tape a bunch of years ago, this short is included on the tape, along with "Hardware Wars", the excellent "Porklips Now" (a spoof of "Apocalypse Now,") by Ernie Fosselius, and "Bambi Meets Godzilla" in all it's insane glory. The tape is well worth whatever money you pay for it, because "Closet Cases" is hysterical.

This is my favorite of all short films!!! It's one of those strange little films that you never forget. It's a good "Science Fiction" spoof... But first and foremost It's a comedy...That of the "Pie in the Face" kind. I thought this film captured the essence of the "Pie in the Face" comedy, better than any film ever.It's weird, strange, silly, and very gooey. It has some unforgettable "pieface" images.. For instance..If seeing someone standing there..Pointing at the camera..Laughing hysterically..and smashing pie after pie after pie into their own face appeals to you, then you'll love this film!!...If you're not into the whole "pie" thing..then let me just warn you..you should probably pass on it..You might find it a little disturbing.......

I myself can't praise it enough. Call this a review from a "Pie in the Face" Lover's perspective. It's the best!!! The "SPLAT" sounds are penetrating!, the pie's stick like glue..and you might even find yourself going "Eeeewwwwwwwwww!!!!!" Oh yeah, I loved it!!! "Closet Encounters of the Nerd Kind". A must for all those who love and have worn the "Pieface"...or at least been curios about it....SPLAT!!!

This is one of those rare gems that seems to have been lost in recent years, the funny movie parody. Along with Hardware Wars and Pork-Lips Now this was set as a movie trailer for a "Close Encounters..." spoof. I haven't seen this film in over 20 years but some hilarious moments still stick with me. If you are a fan of CEot3K you know well about the first encounter Richard Dreyfuss has on the railroad tracks in the film. Here it is accompanied by singing mailboxes and bubbles in his truck. With the kooky voiced lead actor forever repeating the line "This means something..." from the original film. Great fun, check it out if you can find it. Also take a look at "Hardware Wars", "Pork Lips Now" and "Bambi vs. Godzilla".

Also see Hardware Wars, Porklips Now, and Bambi vs Godzilla, all available on a tape from Pyramid films, this was the most amazing and clever and well produced of all the parodies, almost as good as the MTV parody of Se7en starring William Shatner. Fun fun.