REPOSSESSED

Sniff-Sniff-Sniff! What's that smell? What's that ghastly smell which whiffs of bleach, tarmac, and bodily odor? Governmental promises, perhaps? A rotten corpse sterilized in a cesspit? Or what about the following 81-minute film released in 1990? It was directed by Bob Logan and stars Leslie Nielsen, Ned Beatty, and Linda Blair.


Repossessed

THE STORY:

OK, Father Luke Brophy (Anthony Starke). Let me get this straight. You want me, Father Jebedaiah Mayii (Leslie Nielsen), to exorcise the devil from Nancy Aglet (Linda Blair), just like I did all those many-many years ago?

No way! I can't possibly do that, my friend! Ever since I tangled with Nancy, my heart hasn't been the same. Plus, I'm too old, too weak, and I've been retired from the Bible-bashing business for quite some time now.

I tell you what. Why don't you try and duel with the devil yourself, Luke? Or better yet, why don't you ask those two televangelists, Ernest & Fanny Weller (Ned Beatty and Lana Schwab), to have a stab at Nancy as well?

Huh? What's that you say, Brophy? You can't perform this sacred task because you're a bit of a tosser? While those other two will only do their duty, if they can televise their exorcism live on TV?

Oh, shit! Still. That's most probably why what next transpires busts a tit when I get ready to rumble. As a plan is set in motion - you can't always rely on devotion - regrettably the devil spits on mass - and when push comes to shove, rock and roll will always find a way to kick your f*cking ass.

THE REVIEW:

If I remember rightly, the first time I watched 'Repossessed' was not so long after it first came out in the cinemas. And do you know what? I kind of liked it because it was one of those nineties comedies that managed to expand upon an old-time classic in a very bold and funny manner.

Granted, I didn't stand up in the auditorium and declare this picture as being some sort of 'all-time classic'. Then again, I can recall that when I left the theatre, it left me with a spring in my step and a good feeling brewing in my heart.

I'm not sure why, though. Now that I've actually sat down and watched this movie again after all these years, I kind of find it a mixed bag really.

Please, don't get me wrong, the story in itself was an easy one to follow, despite it meandering around in places, and nudging the central narrative onto a path that was somewhat predictable to say the least. Also, as much as I found most of the gags in this flick very funny too, at times some of them never drove the plot along in an appropriate direction, plus came across rather dated in tone.

Admittedly, I'm not trying to say that this film was total pants, folks. No. Far from it. For a start, I loved the performances of both Leslie and Linda, and to me, their presence and their attitude in this movie made it a lot better by default. Plus, here and there, I did get a right kick out of those 'classroom sections', because they always found a way of prodding the hijinks back on track.

But apart from that -- well -- as I said before, this flick is a mixed bag. A right mixed bag. Just like these filmic-facts. (1) 'New Line Cinema' first released this production on the 14th of September, 1990, and eventually clawed back $1.3 million dollars at the box office. (2) Now, if you took any notice of my previous fact, you might like to know that 'New Line' only released this flick in a limited capacity, because they then quickly released it onto VHS and laserdisc in the very same year it was initially shown. (3) Loosely translated, this project was entitled 'Your Talking about the Devil' in the Netherlands; 'Come, Come, Devil' in Hungary; and 'Manattu, Which Manatuu?' in Finland. (4) The majority of this movie was shot on location within the Californian state of Los Angeles, and it only took 31 days to make. (5) The tagline used to promote this picture was, 'The Devil's back. But he's never dealt with an exorcist like this!'. (6) If you look very closely at those scenes where Father Mayii is speaking to his class of pupils, you might notice sitting in the front row, next to the irritating nerd, is none other than a disguised Linda Blair herself, who starred in the original horror classic, 'The Exorcist'. (7) I'm sorry to say that the filmic-elite also gave this flick a mixed-bag of reviews upon its release. Whilst 'Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide' stated that it had, 'Too few gags, too many targets, and a poor finale', 'Mick Martin and Marsha Porter's DVD and Video Guide' called it an "uproarious parody". (8) Believe it or not, this film won a 'Golden Raspberry Award' for 'Worst Original Song', entitled, 'He's Comin' Back (The Devil!)'. (9) After this film shed its guts, Leslie Nielsen starred in the comedy, 'The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear'; Ned Beatty starred in the family-adventure, 'The Comic Book Christmas Caper'; and Linda Blair starred in the crime-drama, 'Fatal Bond'.

 

Overall, I'd say that 'Repossessed' was a fairly fine film. Some of the gags were a lot better than the japes you hear nowadays. The story was a pretty simple affair, although it did lose focus on occasion. And all in all, this comedy is well worth a watch if you're a fan of either Leslie Nielsen or Linda Blair. Trust me. With them in this picture, the price of admission is nothing to sniff at.

Nuff said.  

THE RATING: B-