Stingray Sam

When it comes down to cool-sounding sub-genres, I think Cory McAbee and company have figured out which may be numero uno. How can you go wrong with Musical Space Westerns? I really don't think you can. What can be better than that? Oh, I don't know...maybe something about Werewolf Hunters of the Mid-West…?

This go-around you follow Stingray Sam and the Quasar Kid on a rescue mission as they try to track down a kidnapped girl in the hopes of returning her to her father. Tack on a story of brilliantly silly proportions that include pregnant men, excessive olive eating, and legit sci-fi imaginations, and you have an instant cult-classic.

Once again, Cory delivers a memorable and altogether impressive musical space western that's chock full of catchy tunes (my favorite being The Lullaby), great over-the-top performances, and charm to spare. One aspect to this film that I thought was really well-done was how he utilized his own daughter as the little girl - whom he managed to direct amazingly well. At times he was able to bring that classic style of acting that a young actress like Shirley Temple made popular.

Cory's approach to film-making is unlike anything else being made these days - or at least anything that I'm aware of. They have this universal appeal that makes one think they're truly incapable of being disliked. Of course, that's ridiculous to say, but when it comes down to movies that showcase as much heart as Stingray Sam, or The American Astronaut, it's not exactly difficult to make such claims. Check his films out if you get the chance, you won't regret it.

I love Corys work, The American Astronaut being one of my all time favourites, and Stingray Sam is just as good. The story, such as it is, follows the same dreamlike logic of TAA and one gets the feeling that its where the original inspiration came from. There are huge gaps in the plot and we are expected to take a lot for granted, but thats OK. I'm happy to sacrifice a little character development in favour of moving the story forward, in this case to the next episode. The six episodes that make up the film are perfect little movie-ettes in their own right, reminiscent of the old western series from the 60's and 70's, the ones that used to get shown on a Saturday afternoon.The ridiculous characters and absurd situations Sam and his companion, the never reliable Crugie, find themselves in can often only be resolved by song and dance, neither of which make any sense or are in any way appropriate to the circumstances, hence the dreamlike quality to his films. If you wan't plot led big bangs then look elsewhere. If you want storytelling from an entirely unique perspective them this is the film for you. An absolute gem.

Stingray Sam is great reflection on North American culture through the ages. Presented in a series of episodes (it was never supposed to be a feature, but more of an ol' fashion serial - it's even shot in black and white), each segment contains a good series of jokes and gags in a different location and a unique song for each (which, for the most part, are really catchy). The framework of the story involves two outlaws, Stingray Sam and the Quazar Kid, who are sent to on a mission to rescue the daughter of a famous carpenter (in this reality everyone can become famous if they're good at what they do, even carpenters). That's basically it. And it's great. The special effects are campy, but they're supposed to be. It's all part of the charm and it never takes away from how clever the whole thing is (the story of how The Quazar Kid and Stingray Sam become outlaws is top-notch satire). I really think some of the people commenting on Stingray Sam just aren't familiar enough with the references to understand its aim. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a catchy song and seeing golden-age pop culture skewered.

And the script is even better this time. Funnier too. The craziness is amped up even more, this time McAbee applying a similar approach to "The Hitcherhiker's Guide To the Galaxy", with much more background information, more narration, more nuttiness.

Most of the ideas are very good, but it's the dialog that is at times sublime. I can't recall the exact lines, but several of them had me rolling in laughter. It's not obvious dumb humour; a lot of it is much more subtle than what millennials are used to, so I am not sure whether they (and especially Zoomers) would be able to enjoy the movie properly. No Ben Stiller here, no Will Ferrell, i.e. No dumbed-down cringe "humour", no third-rate grimacing and annoying over-the-top mannerisms. Instead, both of Cory's films are somewhat of a throwback to the golden era of American indie films (late 80s and 90s), with the kind of humour that doesn't necessarily appeal to a wide audience. Nevertheless, long-time sci-fi fans might be able to appreciate all the nonsense that goes on, as well as Python fans.

SS is made up of six 10-minute episodes, beginning/end credits included, and this is the only drawback, that it's so short. If we take away the credits, there's barely 55-56 minutes of footage.

The visual presentation is once again interesting. "The American Astronaut" had a typical slick "arty" b&w look, whereas SS is mostly brown-and-white and blue-and-white. It changes hues on occasion. I can't say I disagree with this style, but "Astronaut" looks better overall. Then again, maybe there was a bigger budget for that film, who knows. Though we are talking small budgets for both films.

It's very telling about the current state of the American film industry when two low-budget obscurities are so much better and funnier than the vast majority of ultra-lame comedies being served by the big studios. But as long as Sandler, Schumer, Wilson, Ferrell, Bateman, Stiller and other mediocrities and worth-nothings dominate modern American comedy, there is no hope things will improve any time soon. Films like "American Astronaut" and "Stingray Sam" will be the odd - and rare - unexpected gems that give the moribund U. S. show-biz a small semblance of hope.

A comic, space-cowboy musical that follows the adventures of Stingray Sam and the Quazar Kid. Forced to repay their debt to society, this duo must rescue a young girl being held on the affluent planet, Fredward. It is like a 1950s tv serial, broken into several episodes, complete with tobacco advertising. Each section has some wonderful Monty Pythonesque animation and a song. The original soundtrack is diverse and catchy; from rock, to crooning, to rap and even a sweet, ukulele lullaby.

Writer and director McAbee, also stars as the singing space cowboy, Stingray Sam. "Stingray Sam is not a hero, but he does do the things that folks don't do that need to be done."

Narrated by David Hyde Pierce, the series has Stingray hook up with the Qasar Kid (Crugie, from McAbee's band). Although creatively a one man show, The Qasar Kid is the quintessential sidekick in this smart/clever/wise buddy movie. The miniature robot is not even weirder than the rest of the great ideas.

It is a film with a world-view, too; subtley political without sounding a false note.

Stingray Sam is exuberant and charming storytelling by an audacious film maker. Cory McAbee is a saint, if not a genius.