Cannibal Girls

This movie is very campy and knows it. It tries to make fun of feminists and chauvinists at the same time, and does so quite well. It is very (very) light entertainment.

Bill Maher plays a light-hearted chauvinist who teaches a tribe of sensitive men all about beer and corvettes. Seeing Bill Maher in purple bikini underwear before being put into a pot to stew, and having him discover a carrot in the pot and uttering the words "What's up Doc" is very worth the viewing experience..

Provided that prospective viewers know what they're in for, "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death" can be a fun and reasonably intelligent movie. They should know up front that it goes for a campy approach, not a sleazy one, and it's lightly entertaining, even interesting. Don't expect any nudity (although there are plenty of sexily clad women and men) or on screen violence. Now, if you're still reading, you may actually find yourself laughing on more than one occasion at this fairly pointed script (by writer / director J.F. Lawton, who went on to write "Pretty Woman" and "Under Siege") and the lively, amiable performances.

It basically satirizes gender politics (while also parodying Joseph Conrads' "Heart of Darkness") in a yarn about feminist professor Margo Hunt (blonde bombshell Shannon Tweed), hired by the U.S. government to infiltrate a large section of California "jungle" and deal with a primitive tribe of females known as the Piranha women. These Amazonian type babes are in the habit of eating their male counterparts after having sex with them. Before making her trek into the jungle, Margo brings along an airhead student of hers, Bunny (Karen M. Waldron, "Return of the Killer Tomatoes") and hires a useless, Indiana Jones wannabe named Jim (comedian / political commentator Bill Maher), who it just so happens was a long ago one night stand of hers, as a guide.

Some viewers will likely think that Lawton is simply too focused on making statements instead of making the movie fun, and in truth, the movie is, as I said, fairly light entertainment. But the jibes in the screenplay are regularly amusing, and Lawton makes sure to take shots at both sexes. Maher is very funny as an obnoxious chauvinist who is taken aback by a male tribe that behave in a very non-stereotypical manner for guys. He goes so far as to teach them about beer and hitting on women. Tweed is a very good straight woman here; if anybody is in any doubt about her having actual acting ability, they need only watch her here. Waldron is cute and adorable. Brett Stimely is likable as the studly Jean-Pierre, Barry Primus makes a guest appearance as the conniving Ford Maddox, and Adrienne Barbeau adds further value with her bright performance as the feminist author who's assumed command of the warrior women.

This is, overall, a nice diversion for an hour and a half.

Seven out of 10.

"Cannibal Women" is not only a movie that's so bad, it's good, it delivers right-on satirical jabs at feminism, machoism, and male/female relations. Not only do we have a conniving military and warring factions of cannibal women, but a local male tribe, "the Donahues".

The chemistry between Shannon Tweed and Bill Maher is perfect--this is definitely Tweed's best performance anywhere, and Maher is perfect as a chauvinistic, directionally-challenged jungle guide. Karen Mistal, who has the thankless job of playing college student/mindless bimbo/aspiring feminist/aspiring cannibal woman, plays her role without flaw, as well. Only Adrienne Barbeau, in a cameo role, seems stiff. But somehow, even her performance works.

For a low-budget comedy, this film surprisingly packs a lot of laughs and even a message or two. Great fun.

the opening sets the tone: a US Operative implores a feminist college professor to enter the wilds of the Avocado jungle and help reclaim it from the cannibalistic, radical, ancient feminist order of the Barracuda women. why? because the acquisition of avocados is imperative to national security.

with a beginning like this, how much campier can it get?

apparently, very. this movie also contains truly the worst fencing scene i have ever witnessed. Bill Maher makes an appearance as the hapless last hope for male superiority in the jungle, although he really only serves as a vehicle for the movie's laughable commentary on the war of the sexes.

a gem of bad cinema. i highly recommend.

This is really rather good and much under rated. Unfortunately it gets put amidst the T&A 'bad' B movie category where it just doesn't belong, although ironically it does begin that way with incompetent men and near naked women bathing in a waterfall. Once properly underway, however, this is a funny film with Bill Maher reminding one of early Robin Williams and cutie, Karen Waldron doing a perfect impression of Goldie Hawn. Shannon Tweed is surprisingly good in the main lead and works well with the others thanks to such a very good script. This is not funny like Airplane and the remit, social satire on sexual politics is a bit narrow but it really is enough to keep you smiling. The scantily clad women are something of a bonus but would be a great disappointment for anyone seeking this out for that reason, and hence, I guess , the less than deserved acclaim this film tend to get. Very much worth a watch.