Ever since my first Master Pancake Theatre experience at the Alamo Drafthouse in October, I’ve become a disciple. These guys have been making people laugh so hard they spit out their beer and choke on their burgers for years, so I know I’m a late comer to the party. I reviewed their Christmas show back in December, nearly cracked a rib during their Star Trek captain face-off and then this weekend found myself with tears streaming down my face as they mocked one of the worst movies to come out in recent years, “Transformers,” the terribleness of which can only be surpassed by its own sequel. (Although in the interest of full disclosure, I do have a soft spot for Shia LeBeouf from his days on the delightfully gonzo “Even Stevens.”)
Taking pot shots at a movie as crappy as “Transformers” is probably akin to shooting fish in a barrel, but the Master Pancake guys elevate mockery to an art form. When Michael Bay gets the biggest budget and the best eye candy of his career (courtesy of Megan Fox), there’s plenty to make fun of and the Master Pancake guys up the ante by interspersing some footage from the 1980s cartoon throughout.
Like always, the guys kick things off by setting the rules of the group drinking game. At the screening I attended, every time anything transformed, we were told to shout “Autocrotch!” and take a drink. Anyone who has seen Transformers knows that those parameters give you plenty of opportunity to get a little sloshy, but Master Pancake Theatre is hilarious no matter if you’re imbibing an iced tea or something harder. And there are the typical “It’s time to stop the movie!” shenanigans. I don’t want to spoil anything else, but I will say that John Erler’s Optimus Prime voice was largely responsible for making me laugh until I cried.
Master Pancake Theatre will be taking on “Transformers” at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz for the next three weekends with two showings on every Friday and Saturday night until Feb. 20. Also, on Feb. 10, they’ll be doing a special one-off of “Casablanca.” I will definitely be there.
I actually like the transformers movies, but I’m sure it was still hilarious!
I am so glad I am not the only person over 12 who loved watching Mr. LeBeouf on Even Stevens. All the goofy faces he would make just amused me to no end. My college roommate used to ridicule me endlessly for it, but I told her “you wait and see, this kid is going to be huge!” He doesn’t make the goofy faces so much anymore though.
Thanks for the comment, Jamie! People in college used to make fun of me for watching it too. Did you ever see the Halloween episode where Louis dresses up as a penguin jockey? I still think that’s one of the funniest episodes of any TV show I’ve ever seen. Yeah, I wish he would do some comedies instead of always going for the more serious action-type roles, but maybe he’ll go back to it at some point.
Mr. LeBeouf had an unusually candid interview with Parade last year. “The good actors are all screwed up. They’re all in pain. It’s a profession of bottom-feeders and heartbroken people.”
Apparently he started out as a stand up comic at the age of 10.
http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/celebrity/2009/06/shia-labeouf-mixed-up-life.html
Wow. That’s an interview. I can’t tell if he’s being candid or if he just likes provoking people. Either way, I think his background is pretty fascinating. Thanks for the link.