Meet the Feebles (1989)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

Heidi the Hippo (Mark Hadlow) and an ensemble cast of animals prepare to shock the world with their new variety show called Meet the Feebles. As they prepare, the darkest corners of humanity close in on them, threatening their way of life and any chance that they have at future success. 

One of Writer-Director Peter Jackson’s earliest films, Meet the Feebles is far different from what the world of cinephiles have come to expect from him (primarily as a result of his incredible success with the The Lord of the Rings trilogy). He’s vulgar, twisted, and unapologetic in his creation of Meet the Feebles, and I found it fascinating his ability to transition from something like this to the massive world of immersive fantasy that we would see from him more than a decade later. 

A combination of men in costumes and puppetry, Meet the Feebles relies heavily on practical effects in order to bring the wildly interesting piece of chaos to life. This film is not for the faint of heart, as atrocities such as rape, extortion, and murder are depicted in abundance throughout. The purpose of Meet the Feebles is to comment not only on the darker side of Hollywood, but on the darkest, most horrifying parts of humanity as well. Constructed of a number of vignettes, Meet the Feebles doesn’t necessarily tie everything together, but it paints a picture spanning the great expanse of suffering that exists in the world around us. With that, Meet the Feebles does present as a bit disjointed and frumpy as a result–however, I don’t believe that Jackson’s film is in need of true cohesion in order for it to find success. It incorporates into it a slew of tragedies and issues that have slowly consumed the world, and Jackson uses an eclectic bunch of individuals to bring a series of challenging sentiments to life. 

Meet the Feebles is an incredibly rocky film that walks the line between what is and isn’t considered entertaining to the masses. I can certainly understand why some people might walk away from the film frustrated or disappointed. However, there are a handful of things that exist within Meet the Feebles that are objectively good, one of which is the soundtrack. I have repeatedly expressed my feelings toward musicals, however, Meet the Feebles includes some catchy tunes that continue to rattle around my brain, antagonizing but reminding me of the time and effort put into this film–and the success that has stemmed from that dedication. 

Furthermore, the use of those aforementioned practical effects–as they limit the number of opportunities that Jackson had to shoot certain portions of his film–are equally as impressive. He had to ensure perfection in some moments, as the budget certainly wouldn’t have allowed for a series of reshoots–and, as is true of the musical numbers, it’s clear that Jackson was methodical and calculated when it came to those more important scenes (particularly the final, explosive piece of Heidi’s story). Meet the Feebles, again, thrives in moments as a result of Jackson’s attention to detail. 

Meet the Feebles presents a series of opportunities for viewers to laugh, and just as many (if not more) at which to cringe. Jackson has been a masterful filmmaker since his early days, and Meet the Feebles is proof that he’s been prepared to make a splash since day one. While the film does experience some instances of nonlinear issues, it ultimately comes together nicely and provides viewers an opportunity to peer into the often disgusting reality of show business and the darkest corners of humanity. 

Directed by Peter Jackson. 

Written by Peter Jackson, Danny Mulheron, Stephen Sinclair, & Fran Walsh. 

Starring Donna Akersten, Stuart Devenie, Mark Hadlow, etc. 

7.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING