It Came from Hollywood

It Came from Hollywood is a 1982 comedy and documentary movie that typifies the Hollywood parody at its best. Starring the comedic genius of Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Cheech Marin, the film takes a fun and whimsical approach to celebrating the wide spectrum of Hollywood's cinematic past, focusing predominantly on the zanier films from the 1950s to the early 1980s.

Directed by Malcolm Leo and Andrew Solt, It Came from Hollywood extracts scenes from several hundred movieland's z-grade (and below) films and weaves them into 80 minutes of pure hilarity. The movie parodies low-budget genre films and presents many of the most hilariously bad scenes from more than a hundred different forgotten B-movies and cult classics. These sequences range from horror, science fiction, to musical masterpieces, and oddball melodramas.

The narrative of It Came from Hollywood is made more lively with the inclusion of Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Cheech Marin as its Docents of Drollery. The comedic trio takes on their roles with enthusiasm and wit, all while contributing their unique comic perspectives. They carry the narration with delightful sarcasm and include self-referential humor, making fun of the bizarre, the outrageous, and the downright nonsensical elements of early Hollywood films.

Dan Aykroyd, known for his dry wit and deadpan comedic style, guides viewers through bonkers scenes from sci-fi and monster movies. With a twinkle in his eye, he delivers biting commentary that enhances the improbable plots, laughable special effects, and hammy acting that define this category of Hollywood's repertoire. Then, John Candy, beloved for his warm, larger-than-life characters, dips into his unique brand of humor as he tackles the absurdities inherent in teen and rock and roll movies from the era. Cheech Marin, ever the counter-culture comedian, gleefully takes viewers on a joyride through wild and outrageous exploitation films, infusing humor that is as vibrant as the movies he's commenting on.

One of the signature elements of It Came from Hollywood is its nonstop archive of unforgettable scenes. As viewers, we are treated to incredible sequences including monstrous vegetables, a tireless collection of gorillas run amuck, Martian invasionsand, talking horses, musical numbers involving transvestites, and even extraterrestrial lobsters. Unearthing a treasure of laugh-out-loud moments, the movie meditates on the madness and creativity that defined an era of Hollywood and long-gone cinema.

The genius of this comedic documentary lies not just in its comedic narration but in its deep respect and affection for these forgotten films. It Came from Hollywood doesn't just mock these low-budget, high concept movies; it celebrates them. It reminds us of an era when storytelling was bound more by imagination than by technology or budgets.

The film’s soundtrack adds another layer to the viewing experience, with a memorable score by Phil Marshall and a diverse entourage of popular, nostalgic tunes to enhance the comedic punchlines, making it a sensory feast that goes beyond the visual to capture the absurd humor in every facet of its presentation.

It Came from Hollywood is a gem of 80’s cinema that it's easy to overlook given our nostalgia for that era’s massive blockbusters. Nonetheless, it is, in its way, an essential ode to Hollywood's past and a beautiful tribute to the forgotten era of low-budget, high-concept films. The vintage clips, augmented by sharp, affectionate humor from Aykroyd, Candy, and Marin, sum up to a joyous, nostalgic journey filled with laughter that still rings true today.

In a perfect blend of nostalgia, parody, and insightful commentary, It Came from Hollywood weaves a colorful tapestry of Hollywood's unpolished diamonds that, despite their flaws, shine with pure intention and grand imagination. This tribute to a bygone era of cinema remains engaging, memorable, and utterly hilarious, solidifying its status as a cult classic that shouldn't be missed by anyone with a love for film and a sense of humor.