There are many, many examples of wonderful classic Hollywood actors appearing in films that are total garbage....and you wonder why Clark Gable would star in "Parnell" or Gene Kelly in "Xanadu" or Cary Grant in "It All Came True". I don't know if they had agents who were out of their minds or the studios were holding loved ones captive in order to force the actors to make these dreck films...but in yet another example, somehow Robert Mitchum starred in "Matilda"...and you wonder WHY!
"Matilda" is the story of a boxing kangaroo...and this one dons boxing gloves and boxes people! Does this sound ludicrous? Of course! And, when you think about it, so was seeing Francis the Talking Mule playing football or Mr. Ed trying out for the L.A. Dodgers....but they really DID make these movies no matter how ludicrous the premises would seem!
When the story begins, an ex-boxer brings Bernie Bonnelli (Elliot Gould) his boxing kangaroo, Matilda, to meet him. Bernie is shocked that the animal can box and he teams up with a sports writer (Robert Mitchum) to sell the public on the boxing beast. Unfortunately for Bernie, the kangaroo knocks out a top boxer who is owned by the Mob...and they vow to get revenge. In addition to these folks, Ms. Smith is an animal rights advocate and she vows to stop the animal from entering the ring.
The way that Elliot Gould deals with the animal rights activist is just amazing....both stupid AND incredibly sexist. When she's in her hotel room showering, he breaks in to see her. When she comes out in a robe, he makes a few sexist remarks and grabs her...kissing her very soundly. Suddenly, she's under his spell and remains so throughout the film!! Talk about stupid and offensive!!! This is exactly the sort of writing you see through the movie--terrible beyond belief though the actors seem to try their best with an utterly ridiculous plot and less believable dialog.
But it's not all about stupid writing. The movie also suffers horribly from the Matilda costume. Obviously there's some guy inside the suit...and the creature is one of the creepiest animals I've ever seen in a movie. It's MORE creepy than the creatures in "Cats" or the title character in "Sonic the Hedgehog", that's for sure!
So is there any reason to see this? Well, if you like seeing actors like Gould and Mitchum committing career suicide, then by all means watch it! And, if you are a bad movie buff, it's also worth seeing. Otherwise....steer clear, as it's junk...and that's being charitable!!
"Matilda" is the story of a boxing kangaroo...and this one dons boxing gloves and boxes people! Does this sound ludicrous? Of course! And, when you think about it, so was seeing Francis the Talking Mule playing football or Mr. Ed trying out for the L.A. Dodgers....but they really DID make these movies no matter how ludicrous the premises would seem!
When the story begins, an ex-boxer brings Bernie Bonnelli (Elliot Gould) his boxing kangaroo, Matilda, to meet him. Bernie is shocked that the animal can box and he teams up with a sports writer (Robert Mitchum) to sell the public on the boxing beast. Unfortunately for Bernie, the kangaroo knocks out a top boxer who is owned by the Mob...and they vow to get revenge. In addition to these folks, Ms. Smith is an animal rights advocate and she vows to stop the animal from entering the ring.
The way that Elliot Gould deals with the animal rights activist is just amazing....both stupid AND incredibly sexist. When she's in her hotel room showering, he breaks in to see her. When she comes out in a robe, he makes a few sexist remarks and grabs her...kissing her very soundly. Suddenly, she's under his spell and remains so throughout the film!! Talk about stupid and offensive!!! This is exactly the sort of writing you see through the movie--terrible beyond belief though the actors seem to try their best with an utterly ridiculous plot and less believable dialog.
But it's not all about stupid writing. The movie also suffers horribly from the Matilda costume. Obviously there's some guy inside the suit...and the creature is one of the creepiest animals I've ever seen in a movie. It's MORE creepy than the creatures in "Cats" or the title character in "Sonic the Hedgehog", that's for sure!
So is there any reason to see this? Well, if you like seeing actors like Gould and Mitchum committing career suicide, then by all means watch it! And, if you are a bad movie buff, it's also worth seeing. Otherwise....steer clear, as it's junk...and that's being charitable!!