PRISON A-GO-GO

Produced by Shane Stein, Amber Shipp, and Barak Epstein
Directed by Barak Epstein
Written by Mike Weibe and Barak Epstein
Edited by Michael Fleetwood
Director of Photography - Jim McMahon

Janie - Laurie Walton
Wilbur - Mike Weibe
Jackpot - Rhonda Shear
Dyanne - Mary Woronov
Dr. Hurtrider - Travis Willingham

When I first tried watching Barak Epstein's first feature, CORNMAN, a ludicrous parody of superhero films, I turned it off just past the half-hour mark. I found it painfully unfunny, and to this day I've never gone back and finished it for review purposes. That's not say the movie was particularly bad, just that I don't share Epstein and friends' sense of humor.

My disdain for CORNMAN prevented me from immediately screening Barak's newest feature, PRISON A-GO-GO, a parody of women in prison exploitation flicks known for their brutality and shower scenes. A normal hot-blooded male would have been instantly turned on by the sleaze element, but when you review as many no-budget features and soft-core flicks as I do, all the boobs start to look the same. I'm forced to grade comedies on their comedic value......go figure.

Cutting to the chase, PRISON A-GO-GO was much more enjoyable than CORNMAN, I at least made it through the entire movie in a single sitting, but have no desire to make a second run to listen to Epstein's commentary. Epstein has made a film that falls into Troma territory with its lowest common denominator stabs at potty humor, some of which worked for me, but most of which didn't. I was more attracted to the physical comedy, which felt more Three Stooges than troma.

Epstein claims he sat through a marathon screening for 21 WIP features before writing the PRISON A-GO-GO script. Not being familiar with that particular sub-genre, much of the humor was lost on me. Of the few films I've seen, certain scenarios were apparent. There's the virginal heroine who must gain entrance to the prison in order to save a loved one. There are catfights and seductions. There are moments when inmates must perform provocatively to gain favors from the warden. There are even zombies, which I'm guessing are borrowed from the Italian WIP flicks.

Epstein's best moments are those that are more mocking rather than parodies, the most ingenious of which is a shower scene countdown in the lower right-hand side of the screen. If PRISON A-GO-GO ever makes it to a television airing, this gag with be lost thanks to network watermarks that occupy the same screen area. One of the more humorous gags involves a group of ninjas who loved to rib the new guy by distracting him and then laying a few Karate chops on the unsuspecting lad.

As stated before, it's possible I could have enjoyed PRISON A-GO-GO more if I were more familiar with the sub-genre it parodies. The truth be told, I've stayed away from these films due to the level of rape mentioned in a number of genre tomes. At the risk of more spoilers, Epstein nicely spins this so that the woman aren't the victims. Instead, they're the aggressors. The worst of which is Jackpot, played by b-movie goddess Rhonda Shear, who makes a game out of forcing herself on the homosexual guards.

In one of the more inspired bits of comedy, Epstein opts to do a 180 turn on the role of warden. Rather than the Ilsa She Bitch of the Universe-style meany (Isla actress Dyanne Thorne is paid homage through the names of the wardens), Epstein casts his nebbish screenwriting partner, Mike Weibe, as a complete slacker who lucks his way into the job. Not giving two spits what goes on at his cushy job, warden Wilbur just tried to make it through the day without spilling his coffee.

While it might sound like I'm gushing positive about PRISON A-GO-GO, I honestly only laughed about 5 times solidly, and I can't say that's good for a comedy. There are inspired moments the lunacy that did bring a smile to my face, but there were more instances that fell flat. Epstein has improved since CORNMAN, but he needs to work on his timing. He tries to achieve that frenetic sense of anarchy found in the best Troma comedies, but many of the beats feel off, almost like he's trying too hard. The most important thing for Epstein is to continue to improve.

The DVD presentation by ei Cinema and Shock-O-Rama is one of their best single-features showcases, and actually overshadows the movie. The disc includes a director commentary as well as an interview with Epstein before he screens the movie at an all-night cult film festival, Shock A-Go-Go. There's behind-the-scenes footage as well as bloopers and audition footage. The jewels in the crown are three short Q&A sessions with Roger Corman, David Friedman, and Mary Woronov taped from the Shock A-Go-Go.

Shock-O-Rama