REVIEW: RETURN TO NUKE ‘EM HIGH VOLUME 1 / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: LLOYD KAUFMAN / SCREENPLAY: VARIOUS / STARRING: ASTA PAREDES, CATHERINE CORCORAN, ZAC AMICO, VITO TRIGO, LEMMY, STAN LEE, KEVIN THE DUCK / RELEASE DATE: JULY 14TH
Troma has always produced its features with its tongue rammed firmly in its cheek and one hand rammed firmly down its pants. Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 does what it says on the tin; it’s a return to the deeply goofy movies that made Troma a household name in the more disreputable sort of home back in the ’80s and ’90s.
The plot involves an evil corporation called Tromorganic Foodstuffs Conglomerate who have begun to peddle it’s 100% not polluted organic glowing green guacamole-filled tacos to the local schools as they’ve been banned from selling their perfectly safe food anywhere else. Of course the main consumer of these foodstuffs is Tromaville High School, an educational establishment that proudly announces that its longest running record between high school shootings is three days. Things kick off when the high school genius has an allergic reaction to the food that causes his head to explode in a horrific and messy way. Matters get even worse when the school’s own glee club transform into post-apocalyptic punk rock mutants, because why not? They still sing, unfortunately, and their reign of terror begins in earnest.
To say that this is a dumb movie with dumb jokes is an understatement of epic proportions. This is a feature that does foreshadowing by having the shadow of the number four appear on the wall. You have to be very clever to be this dumb, and really dumb to think that this sort of thing is clever. That said, there is plenty of sharp (though unsubtle) social commentary hidden amongst all the boobs, bottoms and blood.
Plenty of light swipes at teenage movies and TV series are made through out, though it’s hard to call this a parody; it’s too daft to be that focused. It’s safe to say that most of the cast are out acted by the duck. The only performance that comes close is Lemmy from Motörhead’s cameo as the President of the United States.
Taken in the spirit that it’s intended, Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 is a deeply stupid piece of fun, filled with penis monsters, gore, off-colour humour and nudity and a firm addition to the Nuke ‘Em High franchise.
Extras: None
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