Mom and Dad Save the WorldThis HBO production might've been a direct to video release, had it not possessed the temerity to actually play in theaters for what I'm guessing is two weeks, tops. Teri Garr and Jeffrey Jones play a married couple who are nearing retirement and spend their leisure time traveling around the country in a station wagon. Teri, playing Marge Nelson, seems more interested in these excursions than her husband Dick....who simply wants to relax and take it easy.
But John Lovitz, as the evil Todd Spango, has other things in mind. He's the self-appointed leader of a tiny little world at the edge of our galaxy, which he so modestly named Spengo. Spengo is a planet of idiots, yet somehow their technology is light years ahead of ours. In fact, they even have an aptly-named Death Ray which can obliterate entire planets. Todd Spengo, being as petulant, self-absorbed and insecure as anyone within the Bush administration, wishes to wipe out earth with his Death Ray, thereby asserting his planet as the primary power in the galaxy. But when he sees Marge on what I can only assume is the most powerful version of Google Earth I've never seen, he becomes absolutely smitten with her and resolves to make her his wife. He uses his Magno-Beam to steal her off the face of the earth while she's on her way to another mundane destination with her husband for the weekend.
Such a long-winded explanation of this movie seems entirely unnecessary in light of the fact that its premise is undeniably preposterous. On top of that, the execution of this ludicrous story is mostly joyless. The only person having fun in this film is Teri Garr, who at this point in her "career" was probably just glad to be back in front of a camera. Eric Idle plays King Raff, the real leader of Spengo....unjustly imprisoned and recuperating from having his mind melted. He thankfully adds a bit of charm and credibility to the picture, but alas, we don't see nearly enough of him, nor his trademark humor for that matter. Jeffrey Jones barely manages to force his way through every scene, making our sole protagonist as unsympathetic as he is painful to watch. And John Lovitz, though occasionally amusing, comes off as an annoying, stubborn, over-grown child....something which I'm sure was unintentional.
There are certain things that make this film somewhat enjoyable. The set designs and costumes are commendable. They're both strange and imaginative, giving this film a unique look and feel that sets it apart from other, cheaper, sci-fi pictures. Also, the score is oddly compelling. Its melodies and themes create an otherworldly atmosphere that compliments the narrative perfectly. It's ashame, then, that the music doesn't accompany a stronger story.
Whether you're looking for escapist entertainment in the form of a science fiction adventure, or a funny take on B-movie cliches, you're bound to be disappointed by this film, because it manages to be neither. You can see glimpses of a truly amusing and intelligent parody within the vast expanses of silliness that the movie seems so comfortable wallowing in. While at times fun, Mom and Dad Save the World invariably amounts to a satire as mindless as the very denizens of Spengo.
Rating: C-
This movie is and has always been a guilty-pleasure. I personally love it, but as an unbiased critic...I had to be honest. Still, the music certainly deserves a better movie, and possibly a better pianist to cover it.
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