‘Megacheese’ Funny Commentary On Films

Mon., Aug. 7, 2000

Theresa Carpine, Ferris

All I needed to know about the book “Mike Nelson’s Movie Megacheese” was the title. I bought it for two reasons: Mike Nelson and movies.

You may be unfamiliar with Mike Nelson - unless you were a fan of the cable show “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” If so, you’d remember he was head writer and star of the hilarious (and now defunct) series. If you still have no idea what I’m talking about, just know that Nelson is a very funny guy who has seen a lot of bad movies.

When reading film reviews, I think to myself: What makes this critic think they know anything about movies? What’s their experience? With Mike Nelson, you know this is a man who has seen his fair share of films. America was able to watch him do it on MST 3K (as the show was fondly referred to by fans).

I had a feeling that reading Nelson’s commentary on movies would be very funny. And it was.

The book is an accumulation of essays and reviews about cinema, actors and watching movies at home. Nelson pokes fun at today’s movie genres such as action, writing “If action movies had any basis in reality … Earth’s future would be in the hands of thick-tongued lunkheads like Jean-Claude Van Damme. Personally, I’m uncomfortable with that. I wouldn’t let Jean-Claude Van Damme feed my fish.” Or chick flicks. “What are the elements that make up a good chick flick? It must have a woman or women in it, I daresay … Other than that, it should star either Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan.”

The book goes on in the same slightly sarcastic but funny tone throughout.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mike Nelson’s style as a humor writer. I’d say he’s right up there with Dave Barry and Erma Bombeck, only he’s writing about something I am really interested in, not just family antics. The book would be less interesting for those not obsessed with film. Even I got a little bored in sections where I hadn’t seen the movie. But that doesn’t mean you should skip anything that looks boring, because many of Nelson’s funniest jokes are running gags throughout the book.

Until reading this book, I never would have considered “Road House” as the finest American film. Well, I still don’t, but it’s entertaining to read Nelson’s argument as to why he thinks so.

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