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FRANKENTHUMB
Review by Michael Jacobson
Creator:
Steve Oedekerk
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Studio: Image Entertainment
Features: See Review
Length: 31 Minutes
Release Date: September 24, 2002
“What
should I do?”
“Kill
him!”
“But
I gave him life!”
“Take
it BACK!!”
Mary
Shelley gets thumbed down, but Steve Oedekerk gets thumbs up.
Frankenthumb
is
Oedekerk’s latest all-thumb comedy spoof, and a return to form after the
somewhat disappointing Bat Thumb. Though
his latest effort doesn’t approach Young Frankenstein territory, his
take on all things that made the original James Whale Universal picture such a
classic is filled with welcome touches.
For
one thing, his thumbs are acting better than ever…half of the fun is watching
these animated digits perform! Everything
you’d expect is here, from Dr. Frankenthumb to his twisted assistant Humpy, to
the angry torch carrying mob just waiting for something to go after!
And
of course, who could forget the monster himself…dubbed “Pepper” by his
creator (don’t ask), his violent brain and brute strength soon wreak mayhem.
Will Dr. Frankenthumb come to his final rescue?
Or will he finally decide to destroy his own creature?
Or, will he resurrect another character from an earlier Oedekerk thumb
film to save the day? Let’s just
say the finale is a little batty.
This
film probably boasts the most production values of any of Oedekerk’s
featurettes, including an intricate lab set and touches of animation (lightning,
fire), so it’s clear that the man behind the thumbs takes creating laughter
very seriously! Fans of the
original monster movie will appreciate the little touches, including hilarious
send-offs of the opening “warning” and the graveyard scene…funny stuff!
I
can’t quite place Frankenthumb at the same level of Thumb Wars or
The Blair Thumb, but I can still call it an amusing half hour of
diversion that’s definitely worth the price…frankly, I doubt if Boris
Karloff’s thumbs could have done it better themselves.
Video
**
For
some reason, there seems to be a little more grain and texture associated with
videotape in this transfer than in other Oedekerk featurettes.
Colors are extremely good, and lines are generally well rendered, but the
smattering of grain here and there keep this from earning quite as good marks.
Audio
***
The
5.1 mixes on these films are all very satisfactory…Dr. Frankenthumb’s
lighting storm makes for a lively sound offering, incorporating the rear stage
here and there and emitting some kick through the subwoofer. Dialogue is clean and clear, and dynamic range is formidable.
Features
***
There
is an amusing commentary track with Steve Oedekerk and a large number of
collaborators, including one on speaker phone from the other side of the
country! The disc also features
storyboards, “outtakes”, “cast interviews” (both essentially more comedy
hijinks), and a slew of thumb-related trailers to enjoy.
Summary: