417 - CRASH OF THE MOONS with short: GENERAL HOSPITAL PT 3

Synopsis:  The feature is another movie comprised of segments from the ancient ’50s Sci-Fi series, Rocky Jones, Space Ranger.  In this, which is actually the first Rocky Jones movie (it is not a “sequel” to the movie seen in ep #413 as Dr. F. mistakenly says), the plot is about a couple of inhabited moons called the “Gypsy Moons” that randomly travel through space, bumping into other planets and stuff as they go.  The first thing the moons are going to run over is a space station that has Rocky Jones’ friends on it.  Luckily, Rocky and his dweebie sidekick, Winky, are nearby in their rocketship.  So they fly up and – ahem – “hook-up” with the space station and push it out of the way.  Some calculations by Rocky’s senile old professor pal lets them find out that the Gypsy Moons are going to crash into a planet ruled by a tyrannical queen, who’s a Grade-A be-yatch!  Rocky and Winky first land on the Gypsy moon that will hit the planet and which is populated apparently by only a Shazam-worshipping Nazi couple and their baby, who only cries when other people are in trouble, but never when he has a loaded diaper.  Rocky and Winky next rocket over to warn the queen, who immediately takes them prisoner.  They escape, but not before the queen and a loyal guy fly over to blast the moon before it hits their planet.  They get a few blasts in but Rocky disables their ship and takes them prisoner.  After the moon is quickly evacuated (not surprising since, from appearances, it looks like only three people lived there), they try again to blast it – but fail.  So the evil queen’s planet is evacuated in no time at all (it looked like at least a dozen people lived there!) and, finally, the moon and the planet (maybe it was a moon too – I don’t know) collide and explode.

Don’s Review:  Although not quite as much fun as the other Rocky Jones movie, Manhunt in Space (ep #413), I did enjoy this experiment a lot more on repeat viewing – I guess it helps if you’re familiar with it and more in the mood to see a ’50s-era sci-fi TV-show.  The riffing is great as usual – I especially like the fun J&tBs made of John Banner’s very “Sergeant Schultz” like character (that guy obviously had a lot of range) on the gypsy moon and the riffs on the tongue-tangling, made-up names in the movie.  The host segments were fair overall, with the highlight being Crow’s hilarious new sci-fi movie script full of made up words that made no sense (I think this segment is as funny as the “Earth vs. Soup” segment from ep #313). And although the soap opera short was terrible, the riffing on it was great – I especially liked the comments where Joel puts words in the husband’s mouth.  Overall a good episode that definitely improves on repeat viewing.

Don’s Rating:     [ S: F: ]

Related Link:
   (1) Mighty Jack’s MST3K Review (Episode Review)