Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie 1996

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: For many, a little of this joking will go a long way; devoted fans, however, will wish for a double-bill. Count me closer to the latter group. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Helping to make these pleasantries funny is their spur-of-the-moment quality, the same quick spontaneity that characterizes chance remarks overheard at raucous movie houses. Capturing that bright and unexpected quality is what the MST3K crew does best. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: [MSTies] can rest assured that the movie is about as funny as a typical episode of the show that is, pretty darn funny in a sly and satirical sort of way. For others, the movie can serve as a good introduction to the whole MST3K phenomenon. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: If you're in the mood for some knuckleheaded comedy at the expense of -- in mad scientist Dr. Forrester's words -- "a stinky cinematic suppository called This Island Earth," then get thee to some place playing MST3K. Read more

Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times: It's a fun enough way to pass the time. And fans of the TV version of MST3K certainly won't be disappointed. But it would be just as much -- if not more -- fun watching it in your own living room with a bunch of rowdy pals. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: As the gags pile up remorselessly, and the viewer strains to keep up with the story line and the cutting subtext, a furious but benign apnea takes hold. You can't enjoy a good long laugh because you'll miss too much. Read more

Susan Stark, Detroit News: Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: One of the film's more likable aspects is its certainty that nothing's sacred. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: They've hit a fatal snag. The feature they selected happens to be a pretty good one -- certainly much better than Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie by just about any criterion one could think of. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: You still feel that every delirious allusion, every snidely on-the-mark observational quip, is tickling a different part of your cerebral cortex. Yet the movie lacks the manic highs of the show's best episodes. Read more

Dave Kehr, New York Daily News: There are still enough bad makeup jobs, pretentious lines, and coy sexual situations to give the chattering puppets plenty of fodder. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: I guess there are some concepts that don't excel in the translation from the small screen to the big one. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Part of the appeal of the program is in the wisecracking. But the movies themselves are also crucial. Read more

Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon.com: The illusion that it's just a bunch of wiseguys making fun of a movie is what prevails. It's a pretty impressive special effect. Read more

Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle: [It's] is a tough call to recommend for everyone. But for a goofy time laughing at stupid comedy with otherwise intelligent people, it might be just the ticket. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: [The wisecracks], more often than not, don't go over. But those that do still add up to lotsa laughs, and the sheer weight of them eventually builds an atmosphere of mild lunacy that it's useless to resist. Read more

John F. Kelly, Washington Post: So, how does movie differ from TV show? The answer is, thankfully, not a lot. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: A flat-out hilarious celebration of B-moviemaking mastery. Read more