Synopsis:
THE VEGETABLES OF DOOM! The killer tomatoes are back! But this time around, they’re going to have to contend with late ’80s George Clooney and his wicked mullet… Is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable? Nope, it’s Return of the Killer Tomatoes! Ten years on from the Great Tomato War, mankind lives in fear of another uprising by the waxy red menace. Meanwhile, Professor Gangreen – played with gusto by the great John Astin from TV’s The Addams Family – sets out to pursue his own evil ends by creating a burgeoning army of tomato militia men (who, somewhat conveniently, look just like regular men). Following on from the 1978 cult classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Return of the Killer Tomatoes came armed with a healthy sense of its own ridiculousness and would expand upon a franchise that now comprises four films, two TV series and a video game. So what are you waiting for? Make Return of the Killer Tomatoes one of your five-a-day now!
What We Thought:
I remember seeing Return of the Killer Tomatoes as a kid and thinking it was funny. Watching it now, man is it cheesy…and not so funny.
You watch the film for two reasons today. First, because you remember seeing it and want to see if it still holds up. For most of us, it won’t.
Second, because of George Clooney. If this wasn’t such a well known B-movie, it might be the type of film Clooney uses his power to keep in the shadows. I don’t think George is that type of guy, but I could understand why he might want to. His hair is super 80s and the film isn’t so great.
I must not have seen it too many times because I don’t remember much of it. I don’t remember the blatant product placement segment in it. At one point the director stops the movie and says they can’t continue because they don’t have the budget. Clooney suggests product placement and then Pepsi cans, Moosehead beer and cereal boxes come into screen. It’s pretty cheesy and Clooney would never do that today, but I did chuckle at it.
I also didn’t remember how much of the first film (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes) it throws back to. At one point someone in this movie even talks about how much of the first film is in this one. I actually wish the sequel had more killer tomatoes and less story in it. I think it would have been a better (funnier) film. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is still funny because it’s literally tomatoes killing people. This one really isn’t about that.
The Blu-ray looks pretty good. The film didn’t look great in the first place, but the Blu-ray upgrade is pretty solid. Audio is top notch and the theme song sounds great. Plus it has a lot of bonus features that diehards will enjoy.
Return of the Killer Tomatoes isn’t quite the campy nostalgic flick I was hoping it would be. There’s parts that are funny and cheesy which is a positive to me. I was hoping it would be more over the top like the first film, but there’s just not enough killing from the killer tomatoes. Still, the new Blu-ray looks great and the bonus features are really good. If you have fond memories of the film or just want to see Clooney’s 80s mullet, then overall it is…
RECOMMENDED!
Bonus Features:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original Stereo audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Brand new audio commentary with writer-director John De Bello
- Brand new interview with star Anthony Starke
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin
- Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by critic James Oliver
Cast & Crew:
- George Clooney
- John Astin
- Anthony Starke
Recommended If You Like:
- Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
- Killer Tomatoes Strike Back
- Tomatoes killing people in movies
The Nerds Templar 