Plot: A
biker gang hires a famous race car driver to help them pull off a
string of robberies.
Famous for:
Being what I consider the first really funny MST3k episode.
"Uh, Rod, we need a few more people nibbling on me here. Come
on over."
My favorite riff: The riff I always remember from this episode is the one where the old cop explains to
Rod that the
bikers are "smart", because they always manage to outsmart the
police. And then it keeps coming up as a running gag throughout
the rest of the movie. It's one of my favorite examples of how MST3k
can create callback jokes and running gags just out of one memorable
line.
Cop: They're smart. They know we can spot their
motorcycles before a robbery, so now they're gonna switch to a car.
Tom Servo: Yeah, cars are harder to see.
Rod: How come you don't arrest them?
Cop: Well, like I said, they're smart. They get rid
of their guns after each job.
Tom Servo: Oh look, THEY'RE JUST REALLY SMART, okay?
And
then there's this amazing scene towards the end of the movie. Where the cops
set up a roadblock, and the bad guys just drive around it and go down
a different (unblocked) road. Even the MST3k guys laugh at this moment, because it's so stupid.
Joel: You know, we really should have blocked the other road
too. What were we thinking?
Tom and Crow: (giggling)
Comments: Wild
Rebels holds a special place on my favorite episodes countdown. The
reason it is so special is because it is the earliest MST3k episode to
crack my Top Fifty.
Wild Rebels was the seventh
episode of the second season. And in my opinion it was the first time
they finally pulled off a great MST3k episode. Prior to this episode,
I
think the greatness
of MST3k was mostly just in theory. It was a fun idea, but
they were still trying to figure out their riffing balance, their humor, and their formula.
With Wild
Rebels, I feel like they finally
crossed that threshold. They finally produced their first masterpiece.
"Yikes, looks like Banjo exploded. There's biker shrapnel
everywhere."
The
reason this episode stands out to me, and why so many of the
other
early episodes don't, is because Wild Rebels is actually a pretty good
movie. Even without the riffing, you could probably sit down
and
watch it, and you would probably have a pretty good time. It
isn't that painful to sit through. And to me, that was one of the
keys when
it
came to perfecting a show like Mystery Science Theater. You
don't necessarily want to pick the WORST, or the most unwatchable,
movies. Every so often you want to throw a fun one in there as
well. Because remember, the theme song of the show didn't say "We'll
send him terrible movies." The theme song said "We'll send him cheesy
movies." The goal of the show was NEVER to pick the worst movies of all
time. They never even pretended that.
In
any case, take the fact that Wild Rebels is actually a fun,
watchable (yet cheesy) movie, and combine it with some of the best
riffing of the first two seasons, and voila. There you have it. The
first really good episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
"I really like you, but we could never wash our clothes in the same
load."
Wild
Rebels is a little slower paced than some of the later seasons, which is why I
doubt it will ever show up in anyone's top ten or top twenty favorite episodes. But
if you want a really good example of the point where MST3k crossed over from "a
goofy little public access show" to "this awesome new hit on Comedy Central", this is probably that episode.
Cop: We'd like you to work with us, Rod.
Joel: It's called Operation Weaselsnitch.
Other personal favorite things
about this episode:
This is one of those things that is impossible to capture in print, but
I LOVE the little squeaking noises
they make whenever Linda walks across the screen in her tight pants.
That's one of those things that will always crack me up, that sound
effect.
Banjo: You stay away from her. Mama's like a
virgin goddess.
Crow: Well... sorta.
