mannix-6

This show is brilliant. Never have I seen this era spoofed so well. I've seen many unfunny improv parodies of old 70s shows lately but this show hits it all just right. The likes of Land of the Lost, the Kroft Supershow, Bugaloos, Sigmund the Seamonster, Dr Shrinker, Magic Mungo, WOnderbug! They are all here. Every bad-acted, soap-opera-music, scary costumed, teens-in-trouble one of them.

I love the cast. There are a few onenote performers but some hilarious standouts. And the furry suits with big eyes are the best! As a child I was terrified by these kinds of suits in those children's shows on Saturday morning and this show brought that fear back! Run Away! Run Away!

...and that theme is so catchy! Johnny Tambourine is such a funny character. I laugh my a$$ off every time I see him. Even the name is funny.

This show can take the parody even further with more seasons. There is a wealth of material for them.

I can understand the appeal of a joyous Christmas movie. I can understand the appeal of having a man become Santa Claus. I can understand the appeal of the Christmas magicbeing saved by the unity of the new santa to the new mrs claus.

So where was it? They seem to like to just randomly skip from scene to scene without care for letting the audience know why. What happened? Why are things a catastrophe one minute and all fixed the next? I still have no idea.

For out of work B-listerers like Steve Guttenberg and Crystal Bernard I can understand this as the next logical career choice. But Mariette Hartley....you used to have so much class.

She must have been crying at the end because her agent couldn't get her a better movie to be in.

It takes more than a red suit and a forced ho-ho-ho to make Christmas Magic.

It doesn't weigh you down with a lot of Hollywood drama, phony at every turn and predictable in its every dramatic chord. THis is a simple telling of the lives these women are subjected to and how the power men hold can lead to a nationwide manipulation through faith. This doesn't just speak about India but every country.

I've never seen a film in this time period either. Granted "Ghandi" spanned this period, but this is more showing his effect instead of him. THis isn't a grand-scale multi-billion dollar epic film. But you'll get more out of it.

The performances are great. Seema Biswas, especially. Very subtle yet experiencing the greatest doubt and greatest change throughout the film, her eyes opening as ours do.

It is unbelievable that the picture the film paints still goes on today.