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  Specs
  • Full Frame
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • French: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • Spanish: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • German: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
    English, Dutch
  Extras
  • 6 Theatrical trailer - The Godthumb, Thumb Wars, The Blair Thumb, Thumbtanic, Bat Thumb and Frankenthumb
  • Animated menus
  • Interviews
  • Outtakes

The Godthumb

Warner Vision/Warner Vision . R4 . COLOR . 31 mins . PG . PAL

  Feature
Contract

Steve-a Oedekirk and-a his Thumb-a-mation-a process have-a produced some piss-a-funny spoofs in-a their time-a; making de fun-a with some-a de Hollywood's classic-a moofies. Sadly, de latest to cross-a my desk-a here at-a DVDnet-a, De God-tumb, is-a de poorest example so-a far-a. Oedekirk you dumb-a stoogatz! Don’t-a youse know when-a to quit? First-a you was-a writing and-a directing and-a acting. This-a time, you is de acting only! An what-a we get? Just-a tirty-a minutes of-a that bad Italian rip-a-off from de Frankenthumb. It-a wasn’t-a funny den, and-a it isnt-a funny now-a…

Ahem.

OK, that’s enough of that. Point made. Annoying isn’t it? And The Godthumb - the fourth of the Thumabation spoofs to cross my path – never gets much better; certainly not a patch on the titles I have had the pleasure of reviewing in the past! With Oedekirk taking a break from penning the gags, it shows just how pivotal a role this prolific comedy writer – author of such hits as Kung Pow – Enter the Fist, Ace Ventura and The Nutty Professor - plays in the success of these projects. For while Oedekirk’s thumb-acting is still to be found in abundance (he is easily the best of the small and frequently recurring band of cast members), the whole production falls rather flat. For despite taking all the obvious swings at the original franchise - the horse’s head, Brando's fat arse, devouring kittens, meat cube magicians, cookie-cutter Italian goons, and playing soccer with the Don’s disembodied head - the insider humour just isn't supported by a strong enough plot. It starts, it drags, it ends. Basically, the whole thing goes nowhere.

Well, almost. After the final credits we see a sneak peek at Johnny Paesano’s comeback vehicle - Electro-Robo-Boogie II; the movie for which the Don takes an active role in casting. Now that's funny! And that electro-robo-boogie-bot is so bloody talented!!

Alright, let me cut to the quick here - maybe it’s me. Maybe the whole thumb-gimmick has finally worn a little thin. But no - even if I take a look back at Thumb Wars and Frankenthumb I’m still howling with delight. Nup, when all is said and done, the technique is one thing, funny as it is, but the spoof - insider gags and all - has to stand on its own. I am sad to say, The Godthumb bored me shitless.

  Video
Contract

Produced for television along with the others in the Thumbation series, The Godthumb comes direct to us in all its full-frame glory. And Image Entertainment have continued the run of serviceable transfers afforded their collection of digit-laden titles. As usual, the work that Oedekirk’s team have poured into The Godthumb’s elaborate, and I must say impressive, production design – all Barbie sized of course – can be seen in every muted, wood-paneled, drab-suited frame. Although the image is at times just a touch on the soft side, the detail to be found in the sets and costumes is visible at every turn. Black level too is perfect and shadow detail, where necessary, is acceptable. In terms of artefacts, well there’s nothing to sully Image’s fine work, with the transfer devoid of film-to-video or compression artefacts of any description.

  Audio
Contract

And like all previous Thumbation releases, our region 4 edition of The Godthumb misses out on the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix afforded other regions. No great loss – I’m getting used to it – and when the gags are this crap, who gives a toss whether or not they bounce around the room? Supplied instead with a quite serviceable Dolby Digital stereo track, region 4’s The Godthumb provides a reasonably lively stereo mix that, whilst rather front-dominant, does trot the surround channel out to sing in front of the family now and again. The score is the big winner here – a very nice rip off of the old Godfather themes - as well as the odd bit of ambience such as the partygoers at the family wedding. Infrequent gunshots are also to be heard echoing in the rear channel, as are the strains (and I mean strains) of Johnny Paesano’s almost funny song Beautiful Girls. All in all, not as impressive an audio presentation as previous Thumbation releases, but quite serviceable nonetheless.

  Extras
Contract

Interestingly, Oedekirk's production company haven't furnished The Godthumb with the obligatory commentary track boasted by its more worthy stable-mates. Maybe I'm not the only one to have misgivings about the content? It does, however, provide several standard offerings that you may wish to peruse if you do happen to find this disc anywhere near your player...

Outtakes (1:58)
Some genuine outtakes as the actors fluff lines and generally go stupid.

Cast Interviews (1:51)
Some very talented thumbs, and one funky robot (!) talk about their experiences on the film. Mildy amusing.

Personal Thoughts (1:35)
Extra interview snippets that our thumbs probably wish had never seen the light of day.

Storyboards
21 storyboards taken from each of the production's key scenes. Of little real interest.

Trailers
For The Godthumb, Thumb Wars, The Blair Thumb, Thumbtanic, Bat Thumb and Frankenthumb.

  Overall  
Contract

Given the delight with which I regularly enjoy the other Thumbation releases, the lame duck that is The Godthumb represents utter disappointment. If you are looking to complete the Thumbation set, then please take the liberty of a 48-hour cooling off period, and then rent instead. You have been warned! I'm hoping that just maybe, possibly in the next series, Oedekirk will show us more of Johnny Paesano and that talented Electro-robo-boogie-bot. Now half an hour of that might just be worth seeing…


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=2628
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      And I quote...
    "Sits in stark contrast to its Thumbation stablemates, in so much as it's complete crap..."
    - Gavin Turner
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Toshiba SD-2108
    • TV:
          Panasonic TC-68P90A TAU (80cm)
    • Receiver:
          Yamaha RX-V795
    • Amplifier:
          Yamaha RX-V795
    • Speakers:
          B&W 602
    • Centre Speaker:
          B&W CC6 S2
    • Surrounds:
          JM Lab Cobalt SR20
    • Subwoofer:
          B&W ASW-500
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard Optical
    • Video Cables:
          Standard Component RCA
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