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Troma’s War (1988)
When it comes to Troma Entertainment and their effect on home video, it’s really hard to say just how influential the company has been since the VHS explosion of the 1980s. Troma has honestly remained as a fully independent company for the last 30 years and that’s incredibly important in my mind. Recently because of the Troma Retro DVD line we’ve managed to see some Troma classics rereleased with great special features and nice new transfers. Personally I’ve really enjoyed this series and that would include their latest release “Troma’s War” as well.
“Troma’s War” stars out when a group of Tromaville residents find themselves trapped on an island after a plane crash. Only once they get on the island they realize that there are bloodthirsty terrorists on the island attempting to kill them! But instead of running and hiding the Tromavillians decide that they better strap up and fight back! Our unlikely heros include a used car salesman who happens to be a former serviceman, an environmentalist, a fatty, a old woman, a baby, the baby’s mother and a punker and his girlfriends.
Of course “Troma’s War” is packed with the typical cheese of your average Troma film, but that’s what we all come to expect and love about their movies right? I mean if the idea of a rag tag group of people fighting back against terrorists doesn’t sound good to you, then you probably won’t want to watch this one anyways.
The acting in the movie is also technically what you’d come to expect (in other words, bad) but the movie is surprisingly entertaining. It manages to carry a pace that never leaves your mind wondering or wastes your time when you’re sitting there.
The film has been called Lloyd Kaufman’s response to late president Reagan’s approach to war. It’s something that I personally find to be the case in the film, but it’s not too heavy handed to ruin your experience while watching the movie. You can easily sit there and enjoy what the movie brings you as far as face value goes and it still works.
The new DVD is also packed with special features that make it an even better release. The film comes with a full out “Kill-O-Meter” which is basically every kill in the movie without watching the rest of the film that’s a ton of fun. It’s worth watching just to get a final number on how many kills were in the film. Also it includes a segment titled “Veteran’s Day” featuring Pericles Lewnes (director of Redneck Zombies) meeting up with Troma legend Joe Fleishaker. The film comes complete with audio commentary from Lloyd Kaufman as well as cast and crew interviews and the original theatrical trailer which rounds out the DVD nicely.
Overall I would recommend “Troma’s War” as a pretty entertaining flick that’s as entertaining as it is goofy. I really enjoyed it and thought it was a pretty decent attempt to make a war film when it’s clear there wasn’t the money there to do so (and it’s also billed as the Troma film with the “highest budget ever”). So pick up the DVD as soon as possible and relive the glory days of one of the most important independent film studios ever around!
Rating - ***
-Ed Demko
