Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

-Written by Kyle Bain.  

After these short messages I will discuss with you my feelings on Amazon Women on the Moon, the 1953 sketch comedy starring the talents of Arsenio Hall, Ed Begley Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, and more. 

Mondo Condo, the opening sketch starring Hall, is my favorite of the bunch–working well as an introduction to an intentionally chaotic film. Hall is tasked with being the guide to this film, one that shifts tonally, presents viewers with a series of unique takes on slapstick comedy, and ultimately mirrors the Saturday Night Live satire and parody that has been successful for so long. With simplicity in every facet of this opening sketch (that is set design, comedy, acting, etc.), Mondo Condo allows viewers to peer into the great expanse that is this film before diving so far that you feel trapped.  

Now, back to the 1955 film Amazon Women on the Moon. 

There will be no more interruptions…

What’s interesting about this film within a film is the fact that it’s, in many ways, the weakest aspect of the entire production. That’s not to say that it’s a failure, or even that it’s subpar. Much of this film, particularly in its sketches speak to some of the ongoing issues present in our world. As immature as the film appears on the surface, it does a spectacular job of commenting on things like exploitation, racial stereotypes, and the fleeting attention spans of modern civilization. Amazon Women on the Moon intends to point out the flaws in the Hollywood systems, stressing how women (and their bodies) continue to be exploited, often used as nothing more than eye candy to draw in male viewers. While the commentary here is subtle, it’s fair to say Writers Michael Barrie and Jim Mulholland do an excellent job allowing that theme to remain present throughout the Amazon Women on the Moon pieces. 

Now a quick break.

Blacks Without Soul seems to be the most obvious attempt at expressing a distaste for the some social constructs present in the modern world. With David Alan Grier leading the way, the world-renowned B.B. King makes an appearance to solidify the validity of what Director John Landis hoped to achieve. Grier performs both so comically and elegantly, developing a balance that ultimately transcends the entirety of this film, with Blacks Without Soul ironically (but maybe not) being very much a part of the film’s soul. 

Now, after that interruption, back to the 1956 film Amazon Women on the Moon. 

There will be no more interruptions…

Beyond the intended commentary on exploitative practices in Hollywood, this aspect of the film simply acts as a break from the rest. In inverted fashion, Amazon Women on the Moon does what each of the sketches are supposed to–but with good reason. Amazon Women on the Moon provides over-the-top comedy, asinine jokes, and a wildly fractured narrative that is simply meant to make viewers laugh. While I don’t necessarily love the idea of a turn-your-brain-off film, the fact that Amazon Women on the Moon does allow you to decompress and dissociate yourself for a bit does work in the grand scheme of this production. 

Now, a word about Hospital and Two I.D.’s. Not everything about this film works, and I found some of the sketches to be tedious, frustrating, and ultimately ineffective. While I don’t believe that any sketches necessarily fail, the reality is that this variety show uses, well, a variety of techniques to reach viewers. With that, not everyone will enjoy every aspect of it. The aforementioned Hospital and Two I.D.’s failed to resonate with me, ultimately providing reasons to antagonize rather than entertain. 

And, now, the conclusion of the 1958 film Amazon Women on the Moon. 

Thank you for your patience…

A fractured, non-linear film, Amazon Women on the Moon intentionally presents viewers with something crazy, unique, and ultimately indelible. Amazon Women on the Moon is a roller coaster ride, a cluster fuck of emotion, social relevance, and gargantuan talent. Nearly every aspect of Amazon Women on the Moon works, and for those bits that didn’t work for me, I know that there is a supreme likelihood that they appeal to others. 

Directed by Joe Dante, Carl Gottlieb, Peter Horton, John Landis, & Robert K. Weiss. 

Written by Michael Barrie & Jim Mulholland. 

Starring Arsenio Hall, Danald F. Muhich, Monique Gabrielle, Lou Jacobi, Erica Yohn, etc. 

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING