Dregs of the Netflix Queue, part VI

Mother, Jugs, and Speed was our latest Bad '70s movie. It stars the unlikely trio of Raquel Welch, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Keitel (who is noticeably smaller than Raquel Welch). Rounding out the cast is the aptly named Dick Butkus and Larry Hagman. Watching this movie reminded me of how much the comedy movie has changed since the '70s. Bill Cosby drinks beer while during his shift as an ambulance driver. Larry Hagman's tries to sexually assault a passed-out coed. The EMTs (ambulance drivers) seem to be there only to pick up the injured--not to provide any medical attention. I did kind of dig their ambulances--one's an A-Team style short van, and the other's a hearse-like Cadillac.



Why did Cadillac ever stop making ambulances? This one must have had an incredible ride.

The Winnebago Man

I've watched this Winnebago salesman a few times, and it gets funnier with each viewing. I would like to have seen the finished commercial.

Dregs of the Netflix Queue, part V

I've been in the mood for a bad '70s movie. This one sure fits the bill: a roller derby flick called The Kansas City Bomber. Raquel Welch plays a divorced mom trying to juggle a career in roller derby, sleazy love interests, and children. The stands are full warty, hairy fans, many missing teeth. Jodie Foster shows up in one scene (If I ever meet Ms. Foster, I'll start the conversation this way: "didn't you play Raquel Welch's daughter in Kansas City Bomber").

Needless to say, plot holes are all over the place. Skaters play the same characters on and off the track. There's no acknowledgment of the acting part of the sport, which seems roughly akin to professional wrestling.

Rating this movie is going to be tough. It's the dreaded Six Pack paradox: how to rate a top-notch "Bad '70s" movie. Three stars seems excessive... Two stars would be too few.

Burn 'em Back

Let me know if you've ever had this problem: too many people around a fire that isn't putting out very much heat. What's a host to do? The answer--according to Joe the taxonomist--is to burn 'em back.