Stinker Madness - The Podcast for Bad Movie Lovers
TV & Film:Film Reviews
Notorious for being one of the biggest flops of all time, can it be as bad as history has made it out to be?
The 1987 film "Ishtar" and let me just say, is...confusing. The movie seems to have garnered a reputation for being a colossal flop, and while I can understand why some might hold that opinion, I believe there's more to it than meets the eye.
Let's start with the positives. It's clear that Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, two respected actors, had a chemistry that worked on screen. Their comedic timing, though often misfired, had moments of genuine amusement. Moreover, I can't help but appreciate the audacity of the film's premise: two struggling musicians get caught up in a web of international intrigue while trying to make it big in North Africa. It's the sort of outlandish setup that could have resulted in a cult classic if executed differently. Think Romancing the Stone but executed like Condorman.
Yet, execution is where the film struggles most. The jokes, while sometimes clever, often fall flat. The film's pacing is erratic, and at times, it feels like it's meandering without a clear sense of direction. It's as if the film doesn't quite know what it wants to be: a political satire, a buddy comedy, or a musical journey.
Speaking of musical journey, let's talk about the songs. They're bad. Really bad. And that's not a criticism, it's intentional. It's evident that the film's creators wanted to parody the cheesy pop songs of the '80s, and in that regard, they succeeded. Beatty and Hoffman deliver these intentionally bad songs in an intentionally bad manner, and while I respect the commitment, it doesn't necessarily make for an enjoyable viewing experience.
Ultimately, "Ishtar" is a film with good intentions and a willingness to take risks. It tries to do something different and bold, and for that, I can't completely write it off. However, it's clear that it doesn't fully succeed in its ambitions. It's not as bad as its reputation suggests, but it's also not very good. Whether that's enough to warrant a watch, well, that's for you to decide.
Jungleground - The Magmaknockers were better
Space Truckers - Liquid Beef, cute but not the real thing.
The Forbidden Dance - How we solve global warming
Roar - Joe Exotic's wet dream but our nightmare
Bare Knuckles - Pizza Hut's Bag o' Pizza for 2
Yor: The Rerun
Return of Swamp Thing - Stinker Madness Rerun
Swamp Thing - Stinker Madness Rerun
Dangerous Men - The Hunt for Black Pepper
Conan the Destroyer - You're Welcome, Zach Snyder
Looker - Stick to advertising, guys
Runaway - Roomba's gone awry!
Radical Jack - Stinker Madness Rerun
DOA - Wait, where's the jiggle physics?
Double Dragon - The Power of Robert Patrick's future hair
Top Gun - aka Third Grade
Iron Eagle - Plane Nonsense
The Demolitionist - Dark Angel or Dark Brain-eating Zombie?
Dirty Dancing Part 2 - Stalking Baby and Her Dad
Dirty Dancing Part 1 - Lawrence Welk's Church and Prostitution Camp
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
I Finally Watched...
Kill James Bond!
Blank Check with Griffin & David
Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast
Dead Meat Podcast