Brain Donors

Rating:
Summary: brain donors is the most underrated comedy of the 90's
Review: After reading several of the reviews posted here by others I am so happy to see so many people who share my warped twisted sense of humor in regards to this film. I was beginning to think I was the only one who had even heard of this film.
Brain Donors is a real classic in the sense that its fast paced rapid fire humor merits several viewings. I'm glad to see that it has made it to the DVD format and I only wish that it was available in more stores so more people could have an opportunity to enjoy this film as much as I do.
I find it tough to believe that films such as "Crossroads" and "Glitter" are mass marketed because of their high profile pop star actresses but a true genius body of work like this isnt even an after thought.
Studios wonder why certain films that they spend tens of millions of dollars in advertising on lose so much money and then they dont find a way to market a product as worthy as this. Here's a clue-change the name of the film give it a little bit of advertsing and dont make it a complete piece of garbage and people will plunk down their hard earned $10 to see your film.
We love escapism and this film ceratinly does the trick. In summary no more pop divas and spend a little something on the rare gems like Brain Donors.

Rating:
Summary: This is what comedy is all about!
Review: I remember watching this movie a few years ago on HBO and I thought this was brilliant. I had no idea it was inspired by the Marx Brothers or the Three Stooges at the time, but upon looking back on it, I definitely see it. But more than anything, this is the type of comedy that I find most appealing, not the gross out crap that passes for comedy, but the situational comedy, the slapstick, the zingers, the one=liners, the absurd scenarios, these are things that are genuinely funny. I wish John Turturro would do more films like this, because he was simply brilliant in this movie. This film is going into my collection, to be enjoyed again and again. I love it!!

Rating:
Summary: DVD is bare bones
Review: I'm not going to comment much on this movie other than it is one of my favorites of all time. It's not for everyone but if you like the spoof genre, you'll like this movie produced by the Zucker Brothers ("Airplane!") and written by Pat Proft ("Wrongfully Accused")

Unfortunately, the DVD has no features or previews or anything. There isn't even any music on the title page. So don't expect anything more than the movie when you buy this cult classic.

Rating:
Summary: Funnies movie all time
Review: If you have even a fragment of a funny bone in your body you would love this movie and that is all i have to say btw u also might want to see murder by death


Rating:
Summary: FUNNY, MARX BROTHERS SEND UP!
Review: it's been many years since I've seen this movie but it's stuck with me. This is a screwball, slapstick comedy in the finest tradition of the Marx Brothers with John Turturro essentially doing a fast-talking, wise cracking Groucho Marx role as Roland T. Flakfiser, a shyster laywer trying to bilk a rich widow out of her money by fronting a phony ballet.

Add to the madness Mel Smith in the Chico role and the incredibly underrated Bob Nelson in a role Harpo would have played if he talked. Its all madness, mis-representation and misdirection that ends up on stage in a ballet only an insane person could have come up with (its at this point breathing becomes optional).

This nineties version of the Marx Brothers is a masterpiece of comedy. However, I must warn the intellectual that this will not be the one for you. If you are looking for a film that will inspire you or perhaps make you chuckle at an amusing observation that someone pointed out, stay away. Rather this is for any regular joe who is looking for something that will make you laugh so hard you cry. You don't have to think too hard to get these jokes.

See it now!!!


Rating:
Summary: Finally on DVD! But where's the extras?
Review: There's a good reason why there have been so few attempts to copy the Marx Brothers. Not only did they do it the best but their particular brand of humour is so hard to pull off and do it well that what few attempts there have been have failed miserably. That didn't stop the Zucker brothers (of Airplane! and Naked Gun fame) from trying in 1992 with the underrated film, Brain Donors.

John Turturro, known more for his intense roles (Do the Right Thing, Mac) is cast wonderfully against type as the Groucho surrogate. Up until that point, only the Coen brothers had successfully tapped his comedic potential but not quite to the extent that he does in Brain Donors which allowed him to finally cut loose and show an unseen, wackier side. Roland is, literally, an ambulance chasing lawyer. You have to admire the balls the filmmakers have for showing Turturro actually running after an ambulance. He is still sporting his Barton Fink quaff-it's almost as if Fink finally went completely insane somewhere in Hollywood. Turturro's handling of a simple car accident that introduces his character is a wonderful bit of comedic timing as he motormouths his way through the scene, completely exploiting the situation.

And why not? Penned by Pat Proft (Bachelor Party, numerous Police Academy movies, Naked Gun), the script follows the Zucker Brothers' comedic philosophy of machine gun jokes: if you fire enough of them at the audience some are bound to work. Surprisingly, quite a few of them do (lines like, "These seats are dreadful! They're facing the stage." Roland tells an usher at the opera) and this is due in large part to how the dialogue is delivered, especially by Turturro who rarely seems to take a breath in the entire movie. He makes the film infinitely more watchable whenever he's on-screen.

In the end, Brain Donors plays out like a Marx Brothers highlight reel as it riffs on A Day at the Race, Duck Soup and Monkey Business to name a few but does so in an entertaining and engaging way. Fans of this underrated film can now finally enjoy it on DVD. Sadly, there are no extras. This is a shame-one would like to have seen an audio commentary by the filmmakers, but I guess the fact that it has even surfaced at all on DVD is a miracle.

Rating:
Summary: Riotous laugh-out-loud romp, one of the funniest movies ever
Review: This is the unjustly neglected 1992 update of The Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera." When "Brain Donors" opened in theaters, critics hailed it as the funniest movie of the year -- and then the studio suddenly took it off the market, which led some to believe that the film was a failure. What really happened was, the Zucker brothers (who produced "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" comedies) made a comedy called "Lame Ducks." When the Zuckers changed studios, their former studio pulled the plug on "Lame Ducks," sliced it down to an hour and a quarter, retitled it "Brain Donors," and gave it only a token release before withdrawing it. Since then the film has achieved a cult status among comedy fans as a little-known gem, and it's great to see it on DVD.

It's a very, very funny comedy, with sharp dialogue by Pat Proft. The Groucho role is taken by John Turturro, usually seen in sensitive dramatic roles, and hilarious here as ambulance-chasing lawyer Roland T. Flakfizer. The engaging Bob Nelson has the approximation of the Harpo part; Nelson does speak, but he has comical faces and props for every occasion. Mel Smith plays a cheeky hustler in the best Chico Marx tradition (and uses his entire body for reactions and double takes, in the best Jackie Gleason tradition). Nancy Marchand is excellent as the Margaret Dumont dowager. The venue has changed from the opera to the ballet, but the situations are easily recognizable to Marx Brothers fans. Standout scenes are the connecting-room routine, the contract scene, and the opening-night sequence -- all inspired by the Marxes but shown here with all-new gags. There's even a new take on "A Day at the Races," as the three zanies take over a medical examination.

The DVD edition offers the film in its theatrical, widescreen format. There are no extras (not even a preview trailer) but the picture and sound are superior to the VHS release. The Ira Newborn-Mark Mothersbaugh music has been remixed, bringing out some subtleties in the arrangements.

"Brain Donors" is vintage Zucker Brothers -- one-liners and visual gags thrown at you in rapid succession. It may be too silly for some, but if you like the Marx Brothers you'll probably like this. We've shown it to friends, who are still quoting the dialogue!



Rating:
Summary: "Hold you chins up high..."
Review: This movie is THE funniest movie of all time. Period. Airplane, The Naked Gun, they're close, but they are by the same duo of Zucker-Abrahms, so we are in that league with Brian Donors. The title had to be the only thing holding this movie back from the mass market. With quotes like "Hey cabbie, isn't that meter going by awfully fast?" "YOU must be a speed reader!""..well you got me there" and "Lilian, Rocko, Rocko, Lilian....in order to tell you two apart, one of you is going to have to start wearing a mustache." It can't be beat for 1 liners. BUY IT NOW!!!

Rating:
Summary: Uproarious pastiche
Review: Truly hilarious, Brain Donors is a perfect pastiche of the Marxies, hands down. John Turturro waxes fast and furious as Roland T. Flakfizer--yep, that's right, the Groucho role-- ambulance chaser par excellence, whose 'leading lady' played by Nancy Marchand--the Margaret Dumont part--is also perfectly cast. Assisting Flakfizer are Mel Smith as Jacko Melonchek (the Chico role) and Bob Nelson as Jacques (the Harpo role).

The three guys team up to "help" the leading lady found a ballet company, her late husband's fondest dream. Of course there are villains--George de la Pena in his best George Hamilton impression as a dancer with an ego the size of the Graf Spee, and a big pompous blowhard as Flakfizer's attorney competitor who teams up with George to defeat the boys.

And, of course, we have the young lovers as well--the girl is an established ballerina and her boyfriend is a young novice but, natch, supremely talented. George lusts after the girl, and her boyfriend is George's competitor. One of the best scenes has George leaping around the stage immediately after Jacques has attached a whoopee cusion to George's posterior. You can imagine the results.

But the real star of the show, from my point of view, is the writer, Pat Profft. His lines are so right on target I literally could not stop laughing the entire time. With dialogue this funny it would take a complete idiot director to mess things up and luckily the director, Dennis Dugan, is far from an idiot. He does a fine job, making sure everybody--especially Turturro--is heard and seen as much as they should be to make any viewer bust a gut.

Absolutely hilarious. My vote for one of the funniest films now on DVD, no question. GREAT!!

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious movie!
Review: With a dvd collection of well over 200 its tough for a VHS tape to remain on the shelf, but Brain Donors held thru till 2004 when they finally released this masterpiece on DVD. I highly reccomend this comedic gem to anyone that likes john tuturo and bob nelson. Nelson is at his greatest in this movie, and like always, Dennis Dugan comes through with a short cameo. (also directed Happy Gilmore)