This is a great movie for young kids who like family horror comedies or enjoyed the old Goosebumps series (the novels or the show). Todd is a kid who is convinced that his new stepmother is a monster from his comic book, one of those stories where someone is convinced another is in danger, but that endangered person doesn't believe the warning until it's too late. Todd thinks that stepmom Denise is a Tropokin, this weird aqautic looking beast that eats people and has other strange habits. Well, Todd's dad (Alan Thicke) is that person who disbelieves his sons warnings, thinking the kid reads way too much comic books. After all, monsters aren't real, right?
Well, Denise Gore (notice the pun), is a suspicious behaving woman, monster or no monster. She first met during the same camping trip that Todd's mom mysteriously goes missing (and 6 months later, hasn't been found, which is why Todd's dad is marrying Denise). With the help of a couple of comic books (Sean Whalen, who you may remember as Carl Wayne Bishop in 'Jury Duty' is great as the cynical comic book store owner playing the stereotypical comic book nerd), a cool babysitter (played by Ami Dolenz), her doofus boyfriend (Corey Feldman), and an understanding grandfather, Todd has to expose Denise's darkside before the legendary 'summer solstice,' her fertilization and praying mantis like stage (aka biting off the head of her new hubby), which coincidentally is scheduled the same day as her wedding.
SPOILERS***Although I would encourage kids to see it, the writers went out of their way to make things too gushy at the end. Followed by a hike in the woods with Todd and his dad in a manner that makes you want to whistle the Andy Griffith Show introduction, suddenly, mom is found in the caves in Tropokin-like webs, and despite being caught in this thing that just appears to be old rags, those who were trapped without air or food or lighting, are all of a sudden a-OK and everything is back to normal. This part should be avoided in order to enhance the entertainment value. If you watch up to the point where Todd is sitting on his bed and dad comes in to tell him goodnight, that's about the best way to end it.
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Well, Denise Gore (notice the pun), is a suspicious behaving woman, monster or no monster. She first met during the same camping trip that Todd's mom mysteriously goes missing (and 6 months later, hasn't been found, which is why Todd's dad is marrying Denise). With the help of a couple of comic books (Sean Whalen, who you may remember as Carl Wayne Bishop in 'Jury Duty' is great as the cynical comic book store owner playing the stereotypical comic book nerd), a cool babysitter (played by Ami Dolenz), her doofus boyfriend (Corey Feldman), and an understanding grandfather, Todd has to expose Denise's darkside before the legendary 'summer solstice,' her fertilization and praying mantis like stage (aka biting off the head of her new hubby), which coincidentally is scheduled the same day as her wedding.
SPOILERS***Although I would encourage kids to see it, the writers went out of their way to make things too gushy at the end. Followed by a hike in the woods with Todd and his dad in a manner that makes you want to whistle the Andy Griffith Show introduction, suddenly, mom is found in the caves in Tropokin-like webs, and despite being caught in this thing that just appears to be old rags, those who were trapped without air or food or lighting, are all of a sudden a-OK and everything is back to normal. This part should be avoided in order to enhance the entertainment value. If you watch up to the point where Todd is sitting on his bed and dad comes in to tell him goodnight, that's about the best way to end it.
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