Films Outside the Loop Jeanne Chappé

Adam Rifkin ("Detroit Rock City") wrote and directed this movie. He has got to be totally whacked out! In a good way, of course.

This is a VERY dark movie in a whole bunch of ways. I don't know whether this takes place in some sort of alternate universe or if this is the direction we are now heading in our own world. I shudder to think.

Marty Malt (Judd Nelson) and Gus (Bill Paxton) are best friends and they have jobs where they sort of collect garbage. More garbage falls out of the truck than they manage to put in the truck! Actually, in this world, there is WAY too much garbage for anyone to pick up. Being a garbage collector in this world seems hopeless. So does almost everything else. Marty does have a second job...he is the world's worst stand-up comic at Syd's Bar which appears to cater to the geriatric set.

Marty is in love with Rosalita (Lara Flynn Boyle) and Gus likes women with quite a bit more meat on their bones! This is an understatement. Don't ask what Gus does with a naked woman that he finds dead at the dump. If you are into garbage dumps...this is a garbage dump of great stature. Someone named "Blump" apparently owns everything in this world, including man-made ham and pork juice! Yummy. You probably have the same questions that I have. Something to do with how these things actually taste?

A little advice...do not plan to eat anything during this movie. When Gus goes foraging in Marty's fridge, your stomach will literally turn over! I don't think he drinks the pork juice, though. But I am pretty sure that he never bathes.

Okay...to the gist! A lump starts growing on Marty's back. He goes to see Dr. Scurvy (James Caan), whose performance is totally beyond description. Actually, Doctor Scurvy's initial advice turns out to be accurate in the end! The lump on Marty's back turns into a darling baby hand and then into a full-grown arm. With a third arm, he is now of interest to a minor talent agent, Jackie Chrome (Wayne Newton). As Jackie says, "Comics with two arms are a dime a dozen"! Gus weasels his way into the act by playing the accordion. Wayne Newton is smarmy to the max with his pencil-thin mustache and Rob Lowe has an incredibly funny cameo as Dirk Delta.

Bill Paxton plays the role of Gus with demonic glee and Judd Nelson as Marty Malt is totally believable as his extra arm comforts him. I haven't mentioned Marty's irritating mother who chain-smokes while on oxygen! I kept hoping that she would blow.

The circus music that plays throughout this movie makes perfect sense!

Runtime: 1:43

This film is available on VHS, cable or satellite.

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