The Mediocre Samaritan

May 7, 2008 9:08 AM

The Mediocre Samaritanis a bittersweetly funny film fictionalization of an event that took place in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on February 21, 2007. Produced by J. Elvis Weinstein of MST3K, Stinkburger Inc. and Cinematic Titanic fame. (Event detailed previously on Metafilter. Also, NSFW for a couple seconds of pasty, naked male butt and tactfully censored footage of Casa de Culo.)
posted by cog_nate (14 comments total)

With Rifftrax, the Film Crew, and catching up on old MST3k episodes, I think I've already had my lifetimes fill of kooky voice over commentaries.
posted by Dr-Baa at 9:35 AM on May 7, 2008

This is a straight-up short film with no v/o, Dr-Baa.
posted by Shepherd at 9:44 AM on May 7, 2008

Is it just me, or are all the MST3k people trying over and over to recapture their lightning in a bottle, only separately?

Let it go.
posted by DU at 9:45 AM on May 7, 2008

Ah okay. I just watched "The Trailer" and it came up with a preview of a spoofed 70's action film.
posted by Dr-Baa at 9:51 AM on May 7, 2008

Is it just me, or are all the MST3k people trying over and over to recapture their lightning in a bottle, only separately?

It's just you. Let it go.
posted by cog_nate at 10:49 AM on May 7, 2008

Boring. Poorly executed (supposed to be Minnesota in winter, but the very first shot is clearly L.A., and it's summer as later the guy's even wearing a T-shirt outside). Couple of funny lines, but really not worth the time it takes to get to them.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 11:24 AM on May 7, 2008

It's not just you, DU. Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, the assorted projects like Film Crew, Cinematic Titanic, and RiffTrax all seem to be pale shadows of the original concept.

Whether it was their sole talent, or each burned out the bulk of their creative oomph, or the synergy was just perfect, it's clear that, whatever their magic was as a group at the time, they're not getting it back.
posted by adipocere at 11:29 AM on May 7, 2008

Oconomowoc.

One of the most pleasing place names in America, just for its sound. I live in Michigan now, but used to live near enough to "The Big O" that I remember it well.

Recently, a fire at a commercial establishment there was bad enough to make our local news. The anchorette stumbled once, twice, three times before leaving it at southeastern Wisconsin.
posted by beelzbubba at 11:39 AM on May 7, 2008

1. I love, love, love the work at Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic. No, MST3K will never be repeated. It has a special place in history. But this stuff is still funny. Surprisingly funny at times. So, keep it up, Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic! And hang it up, people who don't think it's funny!

2. I saw this short last week, and I couldn't get past the first minute or so. If it was something I (with no filmmaking skills to speak of) did to show a few friends, it would be awesome. But from the vantage point of just watching it cold... I got really annoyed at it pretty quickly. Maybe I was impatient. Maybe the video was poorly done. Maybe I shouldn't have done meth just before watching it.

3. Just in case I bailed out too soon and missed the payoff, I'll try to watch it again after work.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 12:58 PM on May 7, 2008

One of the most pleasing place names in America

Yea, the ride from Madison to Milwaukee is always an interesting one from just reading the road signs. My other favorite is Manitowoc.

But, you're in Michigan, now, so you get Mackinac. Mmmmm...fudge.
posted by thanotopsis at 1:36 PM on May 7, 2008

It wasn't great, but I don't regret watching it. Kinda cute, mostly meh.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 1:48 PM on May 7, 2008

Holy crap, it's real? I thought Neal Stephenson made it up when he invented Qwghlm.
posted by agentofselection at 3:53 PM on May 7, 2008

You know what, let me withdraw this comment. It was flippant and rude.

It's obviously not just DU that feels that way, but I disagree that the folks behind Rifftrax, The Film Crew and Cinematic Titanic are trying to re-create MST3K. They're just continuing on with a form of comedy that they've had a boatload of experience with. As an admittedly avid fan of that form of comedy, I'm happy they're keeping on (especially the Cinematic Titanic folks).
posted by cog_nate at 4:02 PM on May 7, 2008

I think they -are- trying to recapture the success of MST3K, but that there's nothing wrong with that. Especially since Jim Mallon has basically killed all hopes that the show could ever be revived.

Further, with RiffTrax at least, there is a potent idea here that MST3K lacked. MST3K made fun of really bad movies, but nearly all of them were obscure, or at the very least B-movies that no one really ever thought were all that great. Most of the stuff that RiffTrax tackles are recent films. I Am Legend. Cloverfield. Beowulf. These are films that severely need the piss taken out of them, and I think they're doing it in a particularly awesome way.

The only bad thing I can see about the whole thing is that the MST guys seem to have split themselves up into two groups. Mike's bunch has the comic timing and polish, while Joel's bunch has the left-field references and quirkiness.

(Weird note: Bill Corbett has a screenplay credit for the upcoming Eddie Murphy vehicle Meet Dave. I suspect it was modified a bit since it left his hands though....)
posted by JHarris at 7:25 PM on May 7, 2008