Okay, let's face facts: This movie is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a brilliant film. It is, however, the product of sick minds with unimaginably warped senses of humour.

I first stumbled across this twisted gem on HBO when my own mother brought it to my attention. She referred to it as a "funny, but stupid film". I taped it and watched it over and over until the tape wore out. Barbara Harris (you may remember her as the mom from the original "Freaky Friday") plays the character of Mrs. Flowers with loopy abandon. Her pyrotechnic supplier is portrayed by the brilliant Wallace Shawn.

I've waited to get this film on DVD for years and I'm glad that one territory had the brains to finally release this again. Please note that the copies here are region 0, but are in the PAL format. Unless you have a PAL compatible DVD player, it will likely not work. Please take note.

I first watched this inane little film 15 years ago, zonked in a hotel after the three-day California bar exam. As Amazon did not exist at the time, I was unable to write a review warning the public away from it. Recently, a colleague challenged me to re-view and review it, as a public service. So, pro bono publico, here goes.

The plot is absurd. April Flowers was raised by an overprotective single mother who is drawn as a caricature of Mrs. Cleaver or Harriet Nelson. April herself is supposedly what is known as a "fire girl": when she kisses men or even thinks sexual thoughts, a nearby plant bursts into flame, a car spontaneaously explodes, or other objects are set afire. This requires April to walk around with a fire extinguisher -- not terribly attractive to men. We learn early on that the fires are set by April's perfect mother. Why she sets them is another unbelievable story, told to April and her boyfriend. (I know Amazon's rules of movie reviewing, so I won't spoil even this insipid plot.)

Absurd plots can work if, like "Serial Mom," they are funny. This film is not. The one-trick-pony fire gag becomes tiresome quickly. Comic relief, which is supposed to be provided by Wallace Shawn as a genuine pyromaniac, never arrives.

The only bright spot in this film is the performance of Michelle Meyrink. Meyrink had a short career in the 1980s, usually cast as an awkward ("Nice Girls Don't Explode"), somewhat overweight ("Valley Girl"), or nerdy girl ("Revenge of the Nerds" -- by far, her best role.) Yet, because she was no competition in the looks department for her contemporaries like Heather Locklear or Demi Moore, she had to be a damned good actress to get her roles. Meyrink handles this part with aplomb. It is her performance alone that pulls the rating of this film up to two stars.

"April, do you know why mommy spanked you?"
"Because I made Fluffy fly?"
Poor young April Showers (Michelle Meyrink) is dying to get off her child safety harness (Fluffy the cat makes a temporary substitute) and explore the world at her leisure. But because of her very, VERY unstable body chemistry, the mere thought of interaction with another person--ESPECIALLY a BOY (and specifically the neighbor boy), will cause explosions. Or so Mummy (Barbara Harris) tells her. As April turns into an attractive young woman, intent on attending a dance with the (sigh) sweet guy from next door, all h-e-double-hockey-sticks breaks loose. Will April go to the dance? Will her new lover fry in her arms? And who the heck is Ellen? All questions will be answered.

While I'm not surpised that Troma Studios (Toxic Avenger) produced a film about exploding girls, I am surprised that they produced one as sweet as this.

A silly film with a fine helping of 50's nostalgia, I couldn't help but feel for April. My own mother attended a Catholic highschool and as a result inflicted many its values, not necessary her own, on me. Poor April can't even think of sex or she's liable to set curtains on fire. Quite funny. Something about repression makes you fixate...Oops, there go the curtains!

If you are a fan of those 1980's movies that were so bad that they were good, then you will adore this little film. It is one of the most enjoyable movies I've ever seen. The characters are easy to love and the plot is just clever enough to make you keep coming back for more. This is definitely a movie that deserves a re-release on DVD.

Mom (Barbara Harris) employs a pyromaniac to persuade daughter (Michelle Meyrink)that love can be lethal. Mildly amusing,at best, although if you're looking for an inoffensive video that can be enjoyed by most of the family, this isn't a bad choice. Michelle Meyrink, something of a minor cult actress for nerds, handles the limited requirements of her role well.

Andy: William O'Leary. Ken: James Nardini. Chuck Martinez directed.