It had been years since I watched this Canadian TV Movie. I do remember it from when I was a kid and I enjoyed it then. I was a big fan of SCTV so that may help, but I thought this was a great movie as long as you enjoy the goofy humour that goes along with it.
I believe originally this was broken into three parts and each were shown individually on HBO, but each time I had seen this they were all lumped together into a full length film. There are three separate stories that the host Joe Flaherty brings to us in a sort of THE TWILIGHT ZONE parody.
The first story written by David Flaherty, Joe Flaherty and David McAndrew is about the town of Fitchville whose fly swatter mesh factory has closed up and things have gotten pretty bad. In steps Howard Jensen (John Candy in a funny white wig) who stresses positive thinking for the townsfolk and a dandy of a real estate idea. I thought Candy was quite funny and got a number of laughs from me. Also starring Sheila McCarthy, Don Lake and Wayne Robson.
The second story written by David Flaherty, Joe Flaherty and Catherine O'Hara I thought was the best of the bunch and if you ask me they could have extended this one to perhaps a full length film. Catherine O'Hara is in great form playing Theresa Sharpe who has lived with some nuns (lead by Mother Superior played by Jayne Eastwood) her whole life, but now she is set free to live on her own. Thing is Theresa has a real gift where if she loves anyone they will explode on the spot. She works in the complaint department at a store. I mean where else would she work right? I thought it was quite hilarious when she deals with complaining customers over Cauliflower Kids (a parody of the Cabbage Patch Kids), a stuttering talking bird and Mervis Jutt (John Hemphill in a super goofy role) who has a real attraction to Theresa. I think it has an excellent twist at the end.
The third and final part may in fact be the weakest, but Martin Short carries it where he plays Shucky Forme a bad singer/performer. Short is certainly goofy and manic in this role. Shucky comes face to face with his biggest fan Tippy (the beautiful Olivia D'Abo) where secrets are soon revealed about Wade Jeffries (Don Harron) whose house he is performing at. Written by David and Joe Flaherty
In the end worth a viewing if you like goofy comedy or parodies. I loved it, so if you are a fan of Candy, O'Hara or Short (like me) you might really enjoy it.
