Hercules Returns

The comedy is simple: we see a 1963 Italian Hercules movie, with an "ad-libbed" English language soundtrack. We've seen this kind of thing done before. Many of us have seen it done better. I wouldn't be surprised if the people responsible for this very film have done better: it's based on their live performances, after all, and it would be surprising if they hadn't, on some nights, hit higher peaks than they do here. But that doesn't matter: the great thing about "Hercules Returns" is the way the frame story enlivens everything else about it.

Our three heroes have just opened an independent cinema, and an evil multiplex baron has seen to it that the only film they have to screen is cheesy, thirty years old, in Italian, without subtitles. They screen it anyway, ad-libbing all the dialogue and sound effects. Of course, the actors don't really ad-lib: they've seen the film before and they know what's coming next. But it's much more fun pretending that they're making it up as they go along than it would be to attend a performance in which they really were. Whenever they say something that turns out to match up with what happens NEXT rather than what's happened already, it's a delightful miracle - and because it really wasn't a miracle, because we knew all along that the performers were in no danger of slipping, we don't feel nervous on their behalf, so we're free to laugh. It's like watching the barn front fall on Buster Keaton, who survives because he by happy accident standing where the window landed. It's both thrilling and funny. If it really WERE a happy accident it would be neither.

The reaction shots at the start serve a similar purpose. Every few seconds, at first, we cut away from Hercules to the cinema audience, who are laughing merrily - and at first I though this was an insulting way of telling us, the real audience, that what we were watching was funny. I was wrong. The film does away with reaction shots after a couple of minutes, but they were needed early on to reassure us that the cinema audience was indeed enjoying, and would continue to enjoy, the show. Once satisfied on that point we're free to enjoy it ourselves. Not only do we laugh all the more helplessly, but every time we do, we feel more certain that the heroes are going to succeed.

This film is brilliant.

If you want to see a serious movie with a great story, acting, and drama, don't bother.

This film was made for laughs, pure and simple, and it succeeds. And boy does it succeed! The film is basically like a feature version of the "Whose Line is it Anyway" game "Film dub".

In the movie, a group of friends decide to buy an old run-down old-fashioned cinema, spruce it up, and bring back the old-fashioned feeling of the cinema. As their premiere movie, they decide to show the last film that was shown in the cinema, a 1960's Italian film called "Hercules". Unfortunately just minutes before the film is to be screened to a group of very prestigious people, they find out it doesn't have any English dubbing or subtitles. In a desperate attempt to save the film, the 3 friends decide to turn off the sound, and create all the characters voices and sound-effects within the projection room itself.

There are a couple of other subplots, but the film is just chaotic brilliance as the friends try desperately to carry on.

I couldn't stop laughing when I saw the film, and you should seriously try and see it next time you get the chance. You won't be disappointed.

The producers of Hercules Returns shows the world that corner cutting when it comes to movie making is not only acceptable but should be promoted.

I can imagine the initial board meeting when planning the movie.

"We're gonna make a funny as snot comedy based on the Greek legend of Hercules" They look around and see the money men hypo ventilating with budget induced panic attacks.

"BUT, we're not going to spend a fortune on actors, sets and costumes if that's what you're thinking, instead we're gonna take a long forgotten early 1960's Italian Epic based around Greek Mtyhology and turn the sound off".

There you have your plot and therein lies your comedy. An Australian movie theatre with technical problems, who's over zealous staff decide to show the movie and dub in their own voices with an audio which they hope will match the visual story, though someone should have warned them that at least a small inkling of the plot would have helped them.

I can imagine that a deaf person who could lip read in Italian, probably got a completely different cinematic experience than the rest of us, (Who are those annoying bastards in the cinema projection room ruining this fine Italian feature film!!!), but I'm sure they'd enjoy it too.

See this movie ASAFP, but have some spare pants at the ready, 'cuz you're gonna need 'em.

So far I only know of one person who does not like this film, the rest absolutely loved it! It's probably one of those films whether you love it or you hate it.

I don't know much about Aussie stuff (being NZer myself) but this was amazingly humoured, I've watched it about 15 times by now and still want to.

I thought the first bit was pretty bad, it only got better when the voicing started, and that's where all the essence lies! The hay-stack joke's one of my favourite. Anyone know where I can get the tape to keep???? Please let me know!!

You don't have to be appreciative of Australian humour to absolutely love this movie. For those of you who don't know who Des Managan is, it really makes little difference.

I discovered this movie purely by chance and have spent the last five years trying to get a copy of it.

The pure comedic genius of the humour coupled with the protagonists love of cinema theatre - he leaves his boss with a simple presentation of "the bird" in visual form, makes this movie great.

It is endlessly quotable for us true geeks with such wonderful phrases as "geese mum I'm not gonna marry a guy with bigger tits than me" and the spoof performance of "oh yes I'm the great pretender" I cannot fault it in anyway and strongly suggest you watch it if you can get hold of a copy at all - this is an all time classic which all too few of us have had the pleasure of watching.

If you don't laugh til you wet yourself, I'll personally give you your money back...........