The Time Travelers (1964)
We are now on episode three of the reboot of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and this marks the 200th episode aired. (Yayyy!)
Time Travelers is a pretty routine 1960s sci-fi vehicle which is badly let down by the tragically misguided inclusion of Steve Franken as comedy relief clown Danny. Franken had a long career in movies and on TV and even had a degree of notable success, but this job wasn't one of them!
Supplies worker Danny manages to hang around a laboratory long enough to get sucked into the future with three scientists. There they meet mutants and other humans who have their own problems trying to get by.
Interestingly, Gene Roddenberry must have watched this a couple of times, too! Wink wink!
This MST3K outing seems pretty routine. As usual, the wordy, scripted riffs come flying in thick and fast. But I tuned out after a while. I think it was because the film itself was too good and I wasn't given enough time between gags to watch it. If you look at the many reviews for the original movie on this website they are almost all seriously respectful and appreciative of the film.
Maybe binge-watching the new series is just taking its toll on my funny bones! Either way, this won't be on top of my list of the reboots to watch a second time... although, of course, eventually I will!
I'm still not sure how I feel about the new 'Gypsy' and Kinga Forrester. The adolescent in me wants this to be a boys only club and no girls allowed!
Funniest gag for me: The squeaking sound effects when someone is rubbing their hands over a filing cabinet or a futuristic musical instrument.
This outing is good but not great.