Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989)

Provided that prospective viewers know what they're in for, "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death" can be a fun and reasonably intelligent movie. They should know up front that it goes for a campy approach, not a sleazy one, and it's lightly entertaining, even interesting. Don't expect any nudity (although there are plenty of sexily clad women and men) or on screen violence. Now, if you're still reading, you may actually find yourself laughing on more than one occasion at this fairly pointed script (by writer / director J.F. Lawton, who went on to write "Pretty Woman" and "Under Siege") and the lively, amiable performances.It basically satirizes gender politics (while also parodying Joseph Conrads' "Heart of Darkness") in a yarn about feminist professor Margo Hunt (blonde bombshell Shannon Tweed), hired by the U.S. government to infiltrate a large section of California "jungle" and deal with a primitive tribe of females known as the Piranha women. These Amazonian type babes are in the habit of eating their male counterparts after having sex with them. Before making her trek into the jungle, Margo brings along an airhead student of hers, Bunny (Karen M. Waldron, "Return of the Killer Tomatoes") and hires a useless, Indiana Jones wannabe named Jim (comedian / political commentator Bill Maher), who it just so happens was a long ago one night stand of hers, as a guide.Some viewers will likely think that Lawton is simply too focused on making statements instead of making the movie fun, and in truth, the movie is, as I said, fairly light entertainment. But the jibes in the screenplay are regularly amusing, and Lawton makes sure to take shots at both sexes. Maher is very funny as an obnoxious chauvinist who is taken aback by a male tribe that behave in a very non-stereotypical manner for guys. He goes so far as to teach them about beer and hitting on women. Tweed is a very good straight woman here; if anybody is in any doubt about her having actual acting ability, they need only watch her here. Waldron is cute and adorable. Brett Stimely is likable as the studly Jean-Pierre, Barry Primus makes a guest appearance as the conniving Ford Maddox, and Adrienne Barbeau adds further value with her bright performance as the feminist author who's assumed command of the warrior women.This is, overall, a nice diversion for an hour and a half.Seven out of 10.

The U.S. government, eager to protect the nation's avacado supplies, recruits feminist professor Margo Hunt. She is hired to make contact with the Piranha Women, an all-female tribe who believe men are only good as a source of food. Accompanying Dr. Hunt on her trip are Jim, a guide of questionable competence, and Bunny, a student who wants to start a feminist cookery course.......Getting straight to the point, the title is the funniest and most entertaining part of the film, a wannabe satire showing that men are the weak minded fools we've always knew they were, whilst at the same time portraying women as literal man eaters.So in a sense, it can be quite clever at times, but the depiction of men in this film belong in a Zucker Brothers comedy, rather than a wannabe scathing satire on the men are from mars, women are from Venus argument.The bar scene, where they are trying to hire a guide, just feels like it's from a different film, and takes you away from the narrative, much like the strange tribe scene, where Jim turns the men into real men.And then there's the never ending references to Apocalypse Now, calling the main antagonist Kurtz is one thing, but you really have to do something other than to have someone say 'the horror, the horror'.The stunt casting of Shannon Tweed is wonderful though, and it does have that familiar eighties sheen to it, but other than the wonderfully amusing title, it doesn't do much.

If you enjoy B movies like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes or just like silly movies that don't take themselves seriously this is the movie for you. First, you have the two queens of B movies here: Shannon Tweed and Adrienne Barbeau. You name the B movie and chances are one of them is in it (it also has Karen Waldron who was in one of the Tomato sequels is in this as the overly vacuous Bunny). You also have a young, before-I-got-political Bill Maher. He's perfect as a stereotypical "man's man".The plot is ridiculously silly and they know it. IF you just need a no-brains-needed laugh, this is for you.

Shannon Tweed and Bill Maher are great together. I can give this movie a high rating, besides which it was filmed at my alma mater. The only downside is that they have a scene set in San Bernardino.