Tales from the Crapper (2004) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Various Directors
Starring: Lloyd Kaufman, Julie Strain, James Gunn
Rated: UR/Region: 1/1X33/Number of disc: 1
Available from Troma
Tales from the Crapper is the inaugural film in Troma Entertainment and Lloyd Von Kaufman’s acclaimed Dogpile 95 doctrine of digital filmmaking. Filmed in 3 countries, over 3 years, with 6 directors, 15 writers, and a cast of hundreds, Tales From The Crapper adds up to over 80 minutes of pure en-Troma-tainment! Hosted by everyone’s favorite harbinger of the horrible The Crapkeeper, Tales from the Crapper boasts not one, but two films in one extraordinary digital movie! Twice the Monsters! Twice the fat guys! Twice the Lesbians! Twice the Boobies! Tales from the Crapper is a cornucopia of who’s who of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars!
When you take a look at Tales from the Crapper you have to realize you are dealing with a prime example of Troma trying to make the best of a bad situation. If you know the history behind this you realize this “anthology” film was the last ditch effort from these guys to save two films that went horribly wrong. The end results are a chopped together film that is more of a “wink wink” and “nudge nudge” affair. The movie is really bad and makes no sense and they know that and play off it. They go out of their way to point out how bad it is and turn it around to where it seems they are in on the joke of how bad it is. This inner tongue and cheek work does at least make things watchable.
And to help in the moments when nothing of note is going on they do toss naked women in a bubble on the corner of the screen. That should tell you all you need to know on how this one is hammered out from the folks at Troma. Of course we do get a lot of naked Julie Strain. You may remember her from many late night cable shows that aired after 10 p.m. when your parents were asleep and didn’t know what you were watching. If you take all of this, toss out any real plot, and add in people like Trey Parker, James Gunn, and other well-known folks and you have the creative mess known as Tales from the Crapper. It is what it is, it isn’t very good, but it has its moments.
– A special time-traveling introduction by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, President and Vice President of Troma Entertainment, and the creators of the Toxic Avenger
– TWO commentary tracks: One featuring Lloyd von Kaufman and editor Gabe Friedman, the other featuring Julie Strain and co-director Brian Spitz
– The Thick Brown Line, a fascinating and entetaining full-length behind-the-scenes documentary about the chaotic Tales from the Crapper reshoot
– Topless Comedy Jam, a very special treat from your favorite cinema seductress, Julie Strain
– Make Your Own Damn Movie preview
– Craptacular deleted scenes, from Russia, Spain and other exotic locales
– The Tales from the Crapper web-comic
– Music video for Cannibal Lesbian Hoedown, as featured in Tales from the Crapper
– The incredible Radiation March
– Webmonkey’s Bananas
– Tromatic trailers and other goodies!
