Meet the Feebles (1989)

Multiple animals and insects experience the sleazier side of show business while working on a variety show.

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers:

Fran Walsh (as Frances Walsh), Stephen Sinclair

Stars:

Danny Mulheron, Donna Akersten, Stuart Devenie

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Danny Mulheron	...	Heidi the Hippo
Donna Akersten	...	Samantha the Cat / The Sheep (voice)
Stuart Devenie	...	Sebastian / Dr. Quack / Daisy the Cow / Sandy the Chicken (voice)
Mark Hadlow	...	Heidi / Robert / Barry the Bulldog (voice)
Ross Jolly	...	(voice)
Brian Sergent	...	Wynyard the Frog / Trevor the Rat / The Fly (voice)
Peter Vere-Jones	...	Bletch / Arfur the Worm (voice) (as Peter Vere Jones)
Mark Wright	...	Sid the Elephant / The Cockroach / Louie the Fish (voice)

Storyline

Heidi, the star of the "Meet The Feebles Variety Hour" discovers her lover Bletch, The Walrus, is cheating on her, and with all the world waiting for the show the assorted co-stars must contend with their own problems. These include drug addiction, extortion, robbery, disease, Drug dealing, and even murder. While this is happening the love between two of the stars is threatened by the devious Trevor the Rat, who wishes to exploit the young starlet for use in his porno movie business.

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Plot Keywords:

gross out comedy | puppet | black comedy | electronic music score | troubled production | 

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Taglines:

Sex, drugs and soft toys.

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Musical

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was originally conceived as part of a television series, and only belatedly became a feature after Japanese investors proposed expanding it; as such, the script was hastily re-written.

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Quotes

[first lines]
anouncer: Ladies and gentlemen. Your attention please. Welcome to the newest, the greatest, the most spectacular in entertainment history. Put your hands together for the fabulous Feebles variety hour.

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Crazy Credits

animal treatment disclaimer: "The producers wish to advise that no puppets were killed or maimed during the production of this film."

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Connections

Spoofs Came a Hot Friday (1985)

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Soundtracks

Hot Potato
Music by Peter Dasent and Fane Flaws
Lyrics by Arthur Baysting and Fane Flaws
Performed by Mark Hadlow

User Reviews

What Would've Jim Henson Said?

Hollywood executives must have lobotomized Peter Jackson when he started the "Lord of the Rings" franchise, because his earlier New Zealand productions were so much better.

Just look at this sickly cracking showbiz satire, complete with an array of mostly disgusting Muppets from hell, acting as a walking compendium of the seven deadly sins (and some more). The sheer audaciousness of this nightmare folly is to be applauded, but the astounding fact remains that behind all the cold misanthropic viewpoints on display there's still a beating heart pumping warm blood into this creatures.

Certainly not to everyone's taste and riddled with too many drawn-out plot excesses, this one-of-a-kind pic still deserves a huge cult following.

7 out of 10 panty-sniffing anteaters

Details

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meet the Feebles

Filming Locations:

Wellington, New Zealand

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

WingNut Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1