Return of the Killer Tomatoes (1988)

 

The very first 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes' was a low budget silly film that nevertheless garnered quite a following. Makes sense. I mean: how could you not be intrigued by a film where tomatoes turn out to be lethal killers? This sequel has a much better budget and production values and decided to go balls-to-the-wall with the spoof of B-film fare, even poking fun at itself and its predecessor along the way. 

Is it high art? Heck no, but it certainly is entertaining and fun if you're in the mood for rampant silliness.

Several years after the Great Tomato War, tomatoes have been made illegal. Yet, unbeknownst to all, the evil professor Gangreen is hard at work in his lab, creating a race of Tomato People to do his bidding. They change into people thanks to music. This can also make them turn back into their vegetable form. The males all look like roided up bodybuilders with perpetual snarls, whereas the female variant is comprised of ridiculously hot 80s babes. 

It's surprisingly easy to fall in love with tomatoes, apparently. 

Into the story come our heroes Chad and Matt. Chad has a thing for Tara, Gangreen's assistant, but he doesn't know she's actually a tomato. But when she runs away from Gangreen and hides with Chad, things get set in motion that will upend everyone's idea of the world, including that of produce. 

If you think this all sounds too silly: it absolutely is. This is also why it is so charming and hilarious at times. Not every joke lands, but there's plenty to go around. This one has a bit of that Zucker-Abrams-Zucker energy that made films like 'The Naked Gun' and 'Airplane' so great. Is it on par with those? No. But they did go all out with the absurdity and just ran with it and that gives this one an unmistakable amount of fun. 

All the actors relish in their roles and ramp up their performances to eleven. John Astin was always wonderful, and here he shows his chops as the villainous professor. Anthony Starke is good as Chad and George Clooney seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself as Matt. Karen Waldron doesn't get a lot to do at first besides being pretty, but as the story progresses, it does change somewhat. 

Oh, and they did the product placement gag a long time before 'Wayne's World' and it actually is a touch better here. 

You really have to be in the mood for something as wacky as this, but if and when you are, you are absolutely going to have a good time and a laugh.