MST3K: The Wild Wild
World of Bat Woman
(Shout! Factory DVD)
Picture: B- Sound:
C- Extras: D Episode: A+
The Wild Wild World of Bat Woman takes the concept of bad cinema into a new art form. And
Mike Nelson, Crow T. Robot, Tom Servo, and Gypsy roll right along with it! This episode (#515, first aired November 13,
1993) features my personal favorite era of the show’s long history. Mike is still fairly new, both mad scientists
are still present, and the invention exchange is going strong!
The comedic timing and rapport between Dr. Clayton
Forester (Trace Beaulieu) and TV’s Frank (Frank Connif) remains one of the high
points of the show’s storied run. This
episode features a truly hilarious invention exchange where Frank gives Dr.
Clayton an atomic hairdo makeover. After
this bit of comic genius, Mike and the ‘Bots are forced to endure an
unintentionally hilarious short on the evils of cheating. In it a student council rep learns how easy
school can be when you cheat, but he gets caught, and he learns an even dearer
lesson. Cheating gets you featured on MST3K!
On to the feature!
This hideous movie, while containing ample eye-candy in the way of
plenty of 1966 era ex-strippers, possesses only the barest thread of a
story. While earning a law suit from
D.C. Comics, Bat Woman garnered little else in the way of attention, positive
or otherwise. In it the titular
(pun intended) character (played by Katherine Victor) runs a sort of spy ring
of nubile young women intent on doing good in spite of themselves. Despite plenty of go-go dancing and insane
pelvic gyrations, there’s plenty of inaction to keep the viewer busy.
Zany action and poorly blocked scenes abound in this tour
de farce of a film. It’s a shame there
are no extras to be found on this disc, as I’d love to hear the casts and
crew’s initial reaction to seeing this mess.
This one is well worth adding to any MST3K collection!
- Scott Pyle
