First, if you're not familiar with MST3K, check out the theme song online. It basically explains the premise of the show. "Mitchell" was the featured film in the final episode with Joel Hodgson as a member of the show. I have seen the episode on multiple occasions. It was a ruthless, yet hysterical, evisceration of the movie. Joel and his robot friends spared no one in this film, especially lead actor Joe Don Baker. Folklore has it that Baker threatened to kick their asses if he ever saw them in public. It's a good story, but the episode is in all honesty, brutal in its humor.
However, the "Mitchell" version that's presented is the television edit, and that's probably whittled down further for the show. So regardless of the numerous times I've watched the MST3K presentation of "Mitchell", I've not seen the movie version... until now. And if Joe Don was going to kick anyone's ass, it should have been his agent for signing onto this.
"Mitchell" plays like a failed, television pilot. Mitchell, the cop, is an alcoholic slob. He's slow-witted. He's often told that no one likes him. He enjoys his porn. Mitchell doesn't really do much in the way of police work. His assignment is to tail a suspect, and because of his constant, obnoxious, badgering, either people try to kill him or willingly offer information. A few people get shot, a dune buggy explodes, and Mitchell is involved in one of the slowest car chases ever. The film reaches its ludicrous climax when a high-priced call girl (Linda Evans) falls for him... seriously (bonus points to the love scene that incorporates a Schlitz six-pack).
It's impossible to watch this without thinking of the MST3K episode. In fact, I watched it again. They've made a bad movie fun. The full length version does answer a few mysteries like where John Saxon disappears in the course of the film. Thank you gang from the Satellite of Love for introducing me to the power of "Mitchell".
Rating: 2/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 81
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