Toxic Tutu - Toxic Tutu(DVD) [Chemical Burn - 2019]Any cult/ horror fan worth their salt will be aware of the Toxic Avenger franchise, and Melvin the mop boy- who morphed into the Toxic Avenger in the first classic Troma film. Toxic Tutu finds Mark Torgl, aka Melvin The Mop Boy reappearing after 30 years- the films a mixture of mockumentary, Troma like cheesy & crudity, and convention footage- here is a recent DVD release of this 2017 film. The film's plot finds Torgl reappearing for the first time in 30 years at a horror convention- with his appearance there are rumours abound that a nuke based drug was been used on the original films set. And fairly soon Torgl lands up been kidnap, following fairly soon the kidnapping of Troma figure-head Lloyd Kaufman. It’s fair to say that while this wasn’t made by Troma, it’s a very Troma like film- we have decidedly mixed acting with Torgl been one of the better here, and a selection of bland & big boob women been the worse. There’s more than a sprinkling of crude humour- for example, we get a scene where exploding Love beads are used to kill someone. There’s a manic often shifting feel to pace, and lastly, the plotting is very haphazard. What you don’t really get is any gore
As someone whose dropped in & out of Troma output over the years, enjoying many of their more known films like the Toxic Avenger series, Class Of Nuke erm high series( save the recent two films), Terror Firmer, and Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead- it was great to see Torgl, and of course Kaufman in a film together- sadly it’s decidedly uneven & often haphazard affair- really never really making its mind up if it's trying to be serious, or slapstick- which the best Troma films manage. Also sadly Toxic Tutu feels like it’s cobbled together, seemingly been made up as it goes along.
At moments the whole thing has its enduring points- where the pace/story firms up. And followers of Youtube hoarding/ film collecting also need to keep there eyes peeled for cameos from the likes of Coolduder & Wetmovie 1. But ultimately I found the whole thing been more-trying-than rewarding, and boy does it feel longer than it’s hour & twenty-five-minute playtime.
The DVD case mentions extra, but there where none on the disc I got- instead we got just awkward one press entry screen- so whether it’s a fault on my copy, or a general fault I’m not sure. It sure would have improved things a bit, if there had been some sort of mini-docs/ featurette present here.
On the whole, unless you’re a true Hardcore Troma/ Toxic Avenger fan, I’d say it’s best to avoid Toxic Tutu- as it just feels too messy, haphazard, and badly cheap- with mostly really bad acting abound. There’s no doubt that Torgl can act, and he has a pleasing enough screen presence- it’s just a pity he agreed to take part in this well meaning mess. Roger Batty
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