Available at Amazon.com
Directed by
James L. Wolcott
Film Crew Cast:
Bill Corbett … Himself
Kevin Murphy … Himself
Michael J. Nelson … Himself
The Wild Women of Wongo Cast:
Jean Hawkshaw … Omoo
Mary Ann Webb … Mona
Cande Gerrard … Ahtee
Adrienne Bourbeau … Wana
Marie Goodhart … Woman of Wongo
Michelle Lamarck … Woman of Wongo
Joyce Nizzari … Woman of Wongo
Val Phillips … Woman of Wongo
Jo Elaine Wagner … Woman of Wongo
Pat Crowley … Man of Wongo
Ray Rotello … Man of Wongo
Billy Day … Man of Wongo
Burt Parker … Man of Wongo
Robert Serrecchia … Man of Wongo
Whitey Hart … Man of Wongo
You would think after years of having to sit through one bad movie after another on Mystery Science Theater: 3000, on various other DVD commentaries, his Rifftrax website, and now on The Film Crew, that Mike Nelson is some sort of masochist. It’s stunning just how terrible some of the movies that Nelson and his cohorts, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, have had to watch over the years, even if they’ve made career out of it. Having to see flicks like Wild Women of Wongo on a regular basis could test the limits, of any man, but I’m glad these three have persevered.
Terrible in all facets of film making, Wild Women of Wongo doesn’t even pass as entertaining kitsch. This is a truly horrible movie about a prehistoric tribe of women that realize that their men are ugly because a male from a neighboring group shows up one day to ask for help in a battle against another faction of savages. To be honest, the difference in the men is negligible, but the women of the Wongo tribe swoon over this newcomer, causing great unrest with the local boys. A lot of cheesecake ensues, but nothing exciting or even remotely watchable in the least. In the end, the film’s lesson is that beautiful people should be with each other, and ugly people should stay with their own kind as well.
It’s movies such as Wild Women of Wongo that really make me feel sorry for Mike, Kevin, and Bill. The guys get some good jokes in, especially on a character that looks just like Montgomery Burns from The Simpsons, but the movie is so terrible that it makes you wonder if this is really worth it to them. Then again, the movie provides so much ammunition for these three that the jokes never really stop coming.
Those who get referneced in this feature include David Schwimmer, Steve Irwin, and Kiss Guitarist Paul Stanley, and the guys have a ball going after the movie’s sorry excuse for a prehistoric god (OK, so worship and stuff). We’re also treated to the most ridiculously terrible tribal ritual perhaps ever committed to celluloid (“DANCE!”), as well as constant cutaways to a parrot, which may or may not say anything while on screen, but nevertheless keeps getting plenty of screen-time from the film makers. There’s a great running gag when the guys simply come up with different ways to kill the parrot each time it comes on screen.
Wild Women of Wongo is the worst of the three Film Crew DVDs so far, but really this has more to do with the movie just being the worst of the films they’ve done commentary tracks for so far. Still, the MST vets bring their A-Game and make this an enjoyable experience, no matter how awful things get onscreen. Just be prepared for the Wild Women of Wongo to really not be that wild, just bad actors.
The Video
As with the rest of the Film Crew releases, the segments with the crew itself look fine, and the film is terrible quality, but looks to have not been restored on purpose. Honestly, this movie is so bad; I don’t know who would ever restore it anyway. The film is presented in Fullscreen with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1
The Audio
The Audio track is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and sounds fine enough. The dialogue from the movie is usually buried underneath comments, but would you have it any other way?
Make the Film Crew Dance – This is actually a pretty funny, multipart feature, even if it only lasts a few minutes. To watch these guys dance is hilarious.
The Film Crew Says “Goodbye” Wongo-Style – To be honest, this is the single funniest thing on this entire disc. This is a hilarious send-up of the movie’s finale and I wish this were actually part of the feature.
Trailers – You get trailers for other Shout! Factory releases, including other Film Crew DVDs, Zach Galifianakis – Live at the Purple Onion , and others.
