handleyr

Return of the Swamp Thing takes the best aspect of the original Wes Craven cult classic (its camp value) and also the worst (its discontinuity with the comics) to produce an exceedingly silly and over-the-top film that ranks right up there with Attack of the Killer Tomatoes in terms of sheer comic-bookish hilarity.

The casting works surprisingly well, despite the use of B- and C-list actors. Dick Durock, once again, brings far more class to the role of the Swamp Thing than the writing would seem to allow. And Louis Jordan, while completely unlike the Arcane seen in the comics in every way, is deliciously brilliant in every villainous role he's every played (see Octopussy as an example of a brilliant Jordan performance in an otherwise uninspired movie).

Plus, what's not to love about Heather Locklear? Sure, she's missing Abby's Transylvanian accent from the comic. Sure, she portrays Abby as far more airheaded than she was in the comic. And sure, she's not wearing comic-book Abby's trademark jean cutoffs and read shirt. But this is Heather Locklear, folks, and she more than makes up for it every time she smiles. (Hey, I'm reviewing a corny movie...what better way to do so than to make corny statements?)

Rumors abound that we might someday see a new Swamp Thing film, this time built around the landmark origin story Alan Moore brought to the character. We can only hope. In the meantime, both Swamp Thing films (while hardly high cinema) are still great B-movie fun. Make yourself some popcorn, check 'em both out and be sure to leave your brain in the swamp.

Rich Handley Roots of the Swamp Thing http://www.swampthingroots.com

...still a fun (if goofy and childish) film in its own right. Anyone who has read the early Swamp Thing comics by Len Wein, David Michelinie and Marty Pasko (not to mention later writers Alan Moore, Rick Veitch and others) will likely agree that a lot was lost in translating the epic tale of Alec Holland from the printed page to the big screen. Matt Cable became a woman...Arcane became a much younger man with a different backstory and a different motivation...Abby Arcane is missing entirely...and so forth. On every level, the comic books that spawned this movie are far superior.

And yet, Dick Durock makes the most of what is otherwise largely a mess, and Wes Craven clearly has a lot of fun in making the film seem like a comic book. Some will enjoy the film because of Adrienne Barbeau's outfits...others will enjoy it for the campy comedy and over-the-top dialog...and still others will just crack up and how idiotic many elements of the film (such as the ending) truly are. As for me...I can't help but smile every time young Reggie Batts opens his mouth as Cable's dry-witted youthful sidekick, Jude. What an hilarious performance--and this from a kid who only ever did one film in his career. It's a real shame we never got to see him in anything else.

High cinema? Heck, no. Likely to win any awards? Other than the Raspberry, certainly not. Worthy of a sequel? No, though it spawned one anyway. But worth watching? Absolutely.

Rich Handley Roots of the Swamp Thing http://www.swampthingroots.com