 903 - PUMA MAN
Genre: Superhero (1980, Color)
Synopsis: The ancient Aztecs received from the men from space a
special mask. And they are also given a belt to be used by a special man and passed on to his son and onward for generations,
and each will be called the Puma Man.
As this Italian-made production starts, an ancient mask has been discovered with a Intel motherboard in it.
Donald Pleasence and his assistant
then use this ancient mask to put people under his power by aiming it at
someone and creating a plaster head of that person.
Meanwhile, a strange-looking Aztec guy is sneaking around and following a scientist guy.
The Aztec steals the scientist’s bone and when the scientist follows, throws the scientist out a window.
He lands unharmed, proving that he is the Puma Man (I wonder how many people the Aztec threw out of
windows before he finally found the right guy?). The Aztec tells the
scientist that he IS the Puma Man. But the scientist
guy doesn’t believe the Aztec until some guys sent out by Donald Pleasence try to kill
him because he IS – as Donald Pleasence says – the “p-YOU-ma”
Man.
The scientist guy finally puts on the belt the Aztec throws to him and instantly turns into...
a guy in some goofy-looking PJs – no, sorry – I mean, he turns
into... the “Puma Man.” Next, the Puma Man has to fly and hop (yes, hop!) around to fight Donald Pleasence and his henchmen to get back the mask back for the men from space.
Don’s Review: This movie is a lot of cheesy fun, with hokey flying scenes that remind me of the Ralph Hinkley
(or, was it Handley? ...inside joke to those who remember
the show) character in the old show
The Greatest American Hero (actually, a lot of this unintentionally cheesy movie reminds me of that
intentionally cheesy TV show). And the hopping scenes just have to be seen
to be believed – I can’t put into words just how funny they are! All of this happens to some of the goofiest theme music
I’ve ever
heard (to which M&tBs add appropriate lyrics). Even though the riffing is a little bit disappointing (although the Jerry Lewis impressions
– by Crow? – during the flying scenes are a scream) and the host segments are only so-so (both about typical, though, for a
Sci-Fi era episode), the movie itself is so much fun that it makes this episode well-worth seeing.
Don’s Rating: 
Related Link:
(1) Opposable Thumb Films (Movie Review)
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