The Creature Wasn't Nice

You'd think a movie made in 1983 right on the heels of "Airplane!" and starring Airplane's own master of deadpan Leslie Nielsen, as well as Cindy Williams (Shirley from "Laverne & Shirley") and Patrick MacNee (whom I'll always think of as Sir Denis Eaton-Hogg from "Spinal Tap") would be a sleeper hit. Well, parts may put you to sleep, but other parts are definitely a hit. In the end I think "Naked Space" aka "Spaceship" aka "The Creature Wasn't Nice" is well worth the ride.

It should be noted that writer/director Bruce Kimmel never intended this comedy to be in the style of the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker films "Airplane!" and "Naked Gun", but they were marketed as such, and, according to Kimmel's liner notes on the soundtrack, the film was edited by someone else without his approval. I think Kimmel's style was intended to be something closer to Mel Brooks' early work "12 Chairs", "The Producers", not nearly as zany & absurd as you've been led to believe by the marketing. But if you take it all in stride, a fun time will be had by all.

"Naked Space" has a very low budget look which works in its favor. Most of the gags are pretty tame (the film is rated PG, almost G if not for some brief hilarious gore), and often you may find yourself waiting for a punchline that never comes. If you are expecting Airplane-esque hilarity, you may be disappointed. But the money shot, which even haters of this film must admit is pretty great, comes in the 2nd half when we get a moment of sheer Mel Brooksian gold. That's all I'll say because it's best left as a surprise. But if you don't mind a mild spo!ler, go to YouTube and search "I want to eat your face".

The 2nd great moment comes near the end of the film. If nothing else, watch the movie for those 2 scenes, watch it to see a rare assemblage of great 70s- 80s actors, or watch it to kill 91 minutes of your life. The hilarious songs, as well as the movie, were written by director Bruce Kimmel who also co-stars as "John Boy".

We expected "Naked Gun" style from the title also. Getting into it, we quickly found out the idiocy of this film.

We thought that one redeeming quality is that we can host a MST3K party using this film. (Although it may be TOO stupid to make fun of.)

Our overall impression is that these actors got together, got drunk, and decided to make a film.

I bought this movie on DVD for $4.99 and still felt that I overpaid. Writer/director/actor Bruce Kimmel obviously owes his career to the fact that people bankroll his projects. Not even Patrick Macnee can save this film from a miserably vapid plot. Don't get me wrong, I love camp. I even own "Andy Warhol's Blood for Dracula" and consider it necessary viewing! But this is not camp -- it's just crap. :)

This movie is an extremely warped parody of ALIEN and musicals in general. It's also very funny and generally weird. The talent contest sequence where they find out exactly how their meals are prepared is nothing short of brilliant,as is the DIRTY HARRY movie parody. ("This picture is rated morally objectionable for everyone...")From beginning to end,it's a unique film that deserves to be seen. Bruce

Kimmel went on to idea man for the underrated THE FACULTY.

This is one of the most bizarre spoofs I have ever seen! An unfriendly alien running amok on a spaceship full of idiots. Typically hit and miss, with lots of good ideas which don't always work. Still,Leslie Nielsen is at his stoney-faced best as the pilot, and the cast try hard,although at times they look slightly embarrassed.Nice songs too.