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Along comes another old TV
show made into a Hollywood movie this time the second of the Brady Bunch
capers. It is more of parody of the famous 70’s show than a tribute. I get
the sense that the writers sat down and sought to mock and rip apart the
original premise of the show. Those unfamiliar with the original series would
not get much of the ‘humour’. The show follows the family life of Mike Brady,
his three sons Greg, Peter and Bobby and his wife Carol Brady and her three
daughters Marcia, Jan and Cindy. Add to this mix the wholesome maid Alice.
The original series was a banal yet greatly popular sitcom following the
shenanigans of this ‘bunch’ with a preachy lesson learnt after every show.
So onto the plot which
centres around a horse statue worth $20 million but whose value is unknown to
the Bradys, so much so that Carol (Shelly Long) puts it up for auction for her
local woman’s club charity group for next to nothing. Enter Roy Martin played
by Tim Matheson who claims to be Jan’s previous husband long thought to be
missing. He wins the trust of the Bradys hoping to snatch the valuable statue
when the opportunity arises. Added to this are the subplots of the various
children who by movies end learn their life lessons. The best and funniest of
these is between Marcia and stepbrother Greg who fight over sharing the
basement but end up having the hots for each other. Yes that’s right folks
incest in a Brady environment! Add to this magic mushrooms, use of the swear
word ‘butt’ and the constant sexual innuendo between the Brady parents and one
realises this is an adult movie.
DVD visual transfer is
reasonable quality and in widescreen presentation. Audio is in Dolby Digital
5.1 and is fine; my highlight being the use of the surround speakers during
the drug tripping animated scene. Music has the Brady kids doing a couple of
singalong dance numbers that are deliberately grating. Extras are limited to
scene selection with no menu animation.
I must say I had a few
chuckles at various points in the film and overall left feeling I had watched
a mildly amusing comedy/parody. Nothing spectacular but some bizarre and
brave themes pop up. Hard to grasp why the Brady Bunch seem to be stuck in
the 70’s while the rest of the world around them has joined the new
millennium. Look out for cameos by Ruepaul, Zsa Zsa Gabour with Rosie
O’Donnell and a gem at the end by everyone’s favourite genie.
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