And Now We Are Six

And here we are again. Hard to believe, isn’t it? 2021 has gone by in a blur.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to do with this post because six is one of those underrated numbers when it comes to anniversaries, maybe because we humans like marking milestones in intervals of five and ten.

Actually, I take it back. The number six might not be as prestigious as those fives and tens, but it has its own mystique. And its own weirdness.

We’ve certainly had our share of that on Taking Up Room in 2021, the rest of the world’s story notwithstanding, and in that vein, I thought I’d present this year’s weirdest reviews. Some of the movies might be good, others less so, but they’re all memorable. Who knows, it may be hard to pick only six, but oh well. Here we go (click the images to read the reviews)…

Cosmos: War Of the Planets (1977)

This Italian movie is a clear rip-off of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and it’s impossible to sum up how truly weird it is. Suffice it to say, there are really bad special effects, clunky dialogue, even worse ADR, a muddled plot, a robot that looks like cardboard boxes stacked together, and a crewmember who looks like Paul Simon romancing another crewmember who looks like David Bowie. No kidding, it’s so cheesy sometimes it makes Power Rangers look like Star Wars. Yikes.

Josie And the Pussycats (2001)

There’s no question that Josie and the Pussycats is one weird, er, cat, but its committment to product placement while preaching on the evils of rampant consumerism is a bit of irony not to be missed. Well, that and the cute early 2000s fashion and the cool punk-laced music. I know the movie isn’t the greatest, but it’s a firm guilty pleasure for me. I cringe when I think about having bought the DVD, but I’ll get over it.

JourneyQuest (2010-?)

OK, so this is obviously a series, but it goes by so easily it might as well as be a movie. It’s both a sendup and a parody of the fantasy genre, and it’s incredibly funny and incredibly weird, but only in the best way. Spells backfire, magical objects misbehave, characters hit bottom and then hit it again, and there are plenty of crossed signals and wrong turns. If anyone hasn’t seen JourneyQuest, I’m not going to ruin anything because it’s that fun. Once you start, it’s like Lay’s potato chips: You can’t watch just one part.

Beverly Hills Family Robinson (1997)

A pampered Beverly Hills family are shipwrecked on a deserted island and somehow manage to erect a mondo-luxury treehouse with a dishwasher, stove, washing machine, dryer, subzero fridge, and an air conditioner, all powered by hydroelectric high heels. The Robinsons have thought of everything and then some. It comes in handy when some angry pirates show up looking to get revenge for being cast adrift in a raft after they tried and failed to hijack the Robinsons’ yacht. Yep, it’s a weird, dumb, fun Disney movie that’s been overlooked in the years since it was seen on TV.

Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)

Have I said the other movies on this list are weird? Well, Manos is weird. It’s about a family who stumbles into a cult that sleeps on slabs in the backyard and doesn’t do much beyond praying to some god named Manos. When the family shows up, it throws everyone into a tizzy because there are too many people around, including a child, and that’s just not to be borne. Add incredibly bad filming, female-on-female slap fights and an LSD-addled satyr who looks just like Vincent Van Gogh and it’s a recipe for cringe-y laughter. It’s one of the worst and most made-fun-of movies of all time.

Killer Piñata (2015)

On the other hand, Manos may have to duke it out with Killer Piñata for the top spot in our 2021 Weirdest Movies list, and knowing Manos, it’ll be a slap fight. However, the competition will be extremely stiff, because who would think in a million years that the adorable little piñatas we all see in every grocery store could up and murder you? They’re paper and glue. Unfortunately the movie dilutes cute horror absurdity with its committment to some very NSFW elements, so I would not recommend it without reservations, but it more than fills the weirdness quota here.

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Yep, a lot of strange stuff happened this year, and what we’ve got here is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s never been dull, though, so that’s good, but to be honest, I don’t think it’s possible for blogging to be dull, unless, of course, there’s burnout or the topic is exhausted. The thing about this journey as a blogger is that I’m continually surprised and inspired by my fellow bloggers, my readers, and the world around me. It’s always fun and I love it.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who’s read and subscribed to Taking Up Room. My subscriber count is almost up to three hundred…what? Only took six years, lol.

Just kidding, it’s fine. Thanks, everyone, for subscribing. 🙂

Seriously, I really appreciate everyone’s support and well-wishes over the past year and for this blog’s existence. It means so much to interact with all of you and share in this wonderful world of film and television. With the occasional book thrown in for good measure, of course. I’ve very much enjoyed this year and I look forward to what’s ahead next year, whatever that is. So, thanks heaps, everyone–you all are awesome.

All right, I hope to see you back tomorrow, because I’ll be posting my review of a current release (one of three this month). Then Friday is the What A Character! Blogathon, an event that’s now in its tenth year and hosted by Once Upon A Screen, Outspoken and Freckled, and Paula’s Cinema Club. Talk about whaaat? milestones.

Anyway, thanks for reading, everyone, and have a good one. Here’s to a great 2021 and, God willing, an equally great (or better) 2022…

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