Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)
Comedy | Sci-Fi | Horror | Musical
Business blooms at Mushnik’s Flower Shop when an exotic potted plant called Audrey II arrives. It turns out to be a carnivorous “mean, green mother from outer space,” filling that little shop with horrors. See what lengths Seymour will go to just to keep
the pushy plant happy in this outrageous musical black comedy.
Little Shop Of Horrors first flowered in a low-budget 1960 Roger Corman movie, resprouted as a smash 1980 off-Broadway musical and now comes full circle in this 1986 movie musical adaptation of the stage hit with a score by Alan Menken and Howard
Ashman.
An all-star cast of comedy pros spreads tentacles of pleasure. And this DVD is packed with new and never-seen extras
User Comment: Devyalento Latchford Deschanel from London, England, 22 April 2002 • Failing florist Mr. Mushnik is down on his luck on Skid Row. He isn't selling a single stem, his employee's are either turning up at closing time
or breaking everything. But young Seymour Krelborn has discovered a plant. A very unusual plant indeed. Sort of like a Venus fly trap, only with a personality. He names it Audrey II, after his helium-voiced, pneumatic colleague Audrey, who Seymour
harbours a serious crush on. Yet Audrey is in a relationship with sadistic dentist Orin, who likes nothing more than torturing her and his patients. Audrey II picks up business like never before, and the money rolls in. But Audrey II doesn't need water to
grow. No, he needs something with a kick. He needs blood. Seymour reluctantly complies, and soon enough, Audrey II is a gargantuan, talking plant with a taste for human flesh, and nothing will stop him from getting it. But he also has some hidden plans up
his thorny sleeve.
Little Shop Of Horrors is a fabulous musical, proving that the spark and he magic is still there in the genre. It's quality all the way. What did surprise me most about it was how dark the whole affair was. Orin is beating up Audrey on a regular basis,
Audrey II wants Seymour to go on a killing spree so he can get some lunch, Orin delights in ripping the back teeth out of his patients like there's no tomorrow. What's even more surprising is the contrast between these and the quite brilliant songs in the
film (Classic numbers include "Suddenly Seymour", "Somewhere That's Green" and the show-stopping title theme). This rather strange mix works excellently, resulting in an irresistible film.
The cast are all a revelation in their roles, blending the right mix of camp behaviour and pathos to great effect. Rick Moranis is very good as down-trodden Seymour, whilst Ellen Greene is amazing as Audrey, squeaky and ditzy one minute, then belting out
a song with uncompromising power. Vincent Gardenia is suitably slimy as Mr. Mushnik and Steve Martin is brilliant as evil dentist Orin. His big musical number is comedy genius. Also, Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks and Tisha Campbell are gloriously glitzy
as the narrative chorus. But the real star is Audrey II, with Levi Stubbs providing an excellent vocal performance. The plant seems so real, right down to his evil grin. The one problem with the film is the seemingly unnecessary cameo's that pop up every
now and again. Sometimes they work (Bill Murray), sometimes they don't (James Belushi, John Candy). It's the only tiny problem in an otherwise fantastic film. I guarantee that Little Shop Of Horrors will stay with you for a long time after you've seen it.
It really is a brilliant film. Addictive doesn't even begin to describe.
Summary: Fabulous.
--- JOYA ---
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