Meu Amigo Munchie

My review was written in June 1992 after watching the movie on New Horizons video cassette.

T&A director Jim Wynorski tries on the family film with good results in "Munchie". Picture opened in May in Nashville, but is mainly of interest to video fans.

The Title is a bit confusing, since the singular "Munchie" is a sequel to Bettina Hirsch's 1987 film "Munchies". That kind of moniker reversal is rare, though Universal remade the 1939 classic "Destry Rides Again" in 1954 as simply "Destry". (Adding confusion, Universal's original 1932 version was also called "Destry Rides Again").

Thi time, the one critter, an oversize smiling puppet voiced in wisecracking style by Dom DeLuise, is discovered in a mineshaft by young Jaime McEnnan and becomes his pal, helping him with bullies at school and magically granting other wishes.

Film laks the frenetic nature of its models, such as "Gremlins" and other imitations like the "Critters" and "Ghoulies" series. However, Wynorski's pacy direction and frequent sight gags keep things moving and entertaining.

McEnnan is an ingratiating young hero, and Loni Anderson makes for a most glamorous single parent. Arte Johnson has little to do as a neighboring archaeologist (filling the role of Harey Korman from the original), while Andrew Stevens overplays his nominal heavy as the hero's future stepdad.

Effects, such as a flying pizza, are minor, with the accent on comely, Wynorski's trademark of buxom women in the cast is amply delivered not only by Anderson but Toni Naples as Mcennan's math teacher and Monique Gabrielle as a sexy secretary to the principal.

Do you remember Steven Spielberg's classic story of an alien creature who interacts with a lonely kid who just needs a friend?

This is like that, if you take out the joy, sense of awe, and all the heart - and heap on alllll the campy over the top schlock of a low budget movie.

Is it "so bad it's good?" Yeah, I laughed quite a bit at some of the ridiculous situations that were super problematic for a movie aimed at kids. I'm not sure how they managed to get Loni Anderson and Dom DeLuise for this, but would have loved to be a fly on the wall when those negotiations were going on.

All in all, it deserves a spot in the, "what did I just experience?" list of movies.

Munchie (1992) is a movie that my daughter and I watched together on Tubi. The storyline follows a young man who gets bullied at school and struggles to fit in. He finds a mysterious box with a Munchie inside that agrees to grant his every wish. The young man is about to get his life flipped upside down.

This movie is directed by Jim Wynorski (The Lost Empire) and stars Loni Anderson (WKRP in Cincinnati), Andrew Stevens (10 to Midnight), Dom DeLuise (Blazing Saddles) and Jennifer Love Hewitt (I Know What You Did Last Summer).

This movie has a way better cast than it should. Loni Anderson looks amazing as the mother and Dom DeLuise was a tremendous choice as the voice of the Munchie. The next thing I must say is this movie is bad...but there are some scenes that will make you smile. The pizza scene with the chef with the meat clever was a lot of fun. The funeral dream cracked me up and is something all kids do. They also did a great job creating the various Munchie outfits. The ending is predictable but the mom's boyfriend is so annoying it's still fun to see it happen.

Overall, this movie is more fun than it should be...but still bad. I'd score this a 4/10 and recommend seeing it once.

I learned of Jim Wynorski when I happened to rent his "Chopping Mall" from my neighborhood video store in summer 2001 (the people who only knew Blockbuster have no idea what they missed by not going to neighborhood video stores). I saw a number of his other movies over the years, and have now seen his utterly bizarre "Munchie", about a boy who befriends a doglike being who has unlimited powers and delights in mischief.

For the most part, it was an "E. T." ripoff, complete with a divorced mom. I will say that unlike the beyond-atrocious "Mac and Me", this one at least wasn't a giant commercial, and had some authentically funny scenes (Munchie's gag in the principal's office, and then the party). For the most part, it was nothing that I hadn't seen before.

Well guess what? "Mystery Science Theater 3000" riffed it. This was definitely a movie that set itself up to get mocked. Among the famous people whom Jonah and the 'bots mentioned were Wallace Shawn and Judy Tenuta. They also said that Dom DeLuise voiced Munchie because Don Bluth wasn't making a movie at the time, and that Loni Anderson (as the mom) must've gotten this movie in her divorce from Burt Reynolds.

The rest of the cast includes Andrew Stevens (Stella's son), Arte Johnson and Jennifer Love Hewitt in her debut.

Bobhoperocks is right that this is not a sequel...but it does state on the cover box that Munchie is a sequel to Munchies. And if you liked Munchies, you won't like Munchie because it sucks. Plain and simple. The two have nothing to do with each other. I know I'm repeating myself here, but come on...I mean, come on...!!