Editorial Reviews

I'm going to come right out and say it: I absolutely love this movie. Love it, love it, love it. Every time I watch it, I laugh like a drunken hyena. Yes, I realize it's silly, low brow entertainment. I also realize that the acting is amateurish, the effects nonexistent, and the story ludicrous. But come on people…this movie is really, really funny. Where else can you see giant, fuzzy mutant tomato talk like cousin It while bouncing around the room like a can of flubber?

For those of you who don't know anything about this film, let me preface this review by saying that this is not a horror movie (as evidenced by the cover of the DVD case). Return of the Killer Tomatoes is actually a Naked Gun-like slapstick farce that throws almost every joke imaginable at the screen. And you know what? A lot of them actually work! The reason for this is that the filmmakers never, ever take the material seriously. They know exactly what kind of movie they're making, and who they're making it for. Everyone in the movie seems to be having a grand old time just acting like fools. For those who think George Clooney's best work is when he's acting serious, you've never seen him in an out-and-out comedy. Sporting fluffily long hair and droopy eyes, Clooney is pitch perfect in his role as the womanizing best friend. Anthony Starke, the poor man's Michael J. Fox, is so sweaty and nervous that he looks like he's suffering from a bout of TB. And then there's the great character actor John Astin as the devious Professor Gangreen. Cackling like Colin Clive in Frankenstein, yet simultaneously winking at the audience, his role is easily the funniest and most enjoyable in the film.

So just how goofy is this movie? Return of the Killer Tomatoes is the only film that includes a fight in a pizza parlor with ninjas, cowboys, children, and restaurant patrons. Return of the Killer Tomatoes is the only movie that has the gall to stop the film and pretend as if the budget has been depleted. Return of the Killer Tomatoes is the only movie ever made that features blatantly obvious product placement by everyone from Pepsi to Goobers to Corn Flakes to insurance companies. Needless to say, this is a fantastic flick.

Return of the Killer Tomatoes is not going to be to everyone's taste (pun intended). Some of you will find it utterly stupid. Others will just think it's a string of cheap laughs with some pretty shoddy effects. But for those of you who are connoisseurs of B-movies, Return of the Killer Tomatoes is a special treat that's tastier than a fresh ripe…well, you-know-what.

Return of the Killer Tomatoes is presented in a 1.33:1 full frame version. I'm not sure what the exact aspect ratio was for Return of the Killer Tomatoes, though Anchor Bay is usually very good at putting out the right version. So, I'll go with a guess that Return of the Killer Tomatoes was filmed to fit a regular TV screen. As for the transfer, it's passable if not wholly exciting. The colors and black levels all appear solid and well saturated, though there is an excessive amount of grain during many sequences. However, I don't think this is Anchor Bay's fault—the minute budget of the film probably didn't help matters.

The audio is presented in Dolby Digital Mono and is works well in the confines of the film. While there aren't any directional effects located on this mix, the fact is that this movie didn't require a new 5.1 remix. The dialogue, effects, and music are all free and clear of any distortion or hiss. No alternate soundtracks or subtitles are included on this disc.

Now comes the disappointing news: the only extra feature located on this disc is a very funny theatrical trailer for the film. Was director John De Bello too busy filming Assault of the Living Cumquats to record a commentary track?

Plot Summary

• Plot Synopsis:

  It has been years since the original Killer Tomato attack was squashed, and pizza-makers Matt (George Clooney)and Chad (Anthony Starke) are living a life ripe with good times and non-tomato based sauces. Meanwhile, mad genetic scientist Professor Gangreen (John Astin) is plotting to take over the world by creating a race of mighty tomato warriors and one wanton tomato woman (Karen Mistal). But when Chad falls in love with the bodacious tomato babe, he and Matt must face a deadly rampage of ninjas, newsmen, toxic waste and product placement. Can these two heroes defeat the most fiendish red menace of all or will the girl of their dreams turn out be a complete vegetable?

Product Details

• Actors: George Clooney, John Astin, Anthony Starke, Michael Villani, Harvey Weber
• Directors: John De Bello
• Format: Closed-Captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English
• Disc Origin: Region 1 (USA) Original
• Region: All
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Full Screen)
• Number of discs: 1 (1 x DVD5)
• Rating: PG
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: April 02, 2002
• Run Time: 98 minutes