Mystery Science Theater 3000 - I Accuse My Parents (1945)

"Joel, don't you have anything better to do than psychoanalyze a bunch of robots?" Apparently not in this hilarious installment of MST3K, in which Joel Hodgson and the robots of the Satellite of Love deconstruct this starched and stiff juvenile delinquent drama with everything from art projects to a giant mobile representing the hero's roiling subconscious. Square high school kid Jimmy is on trial for murder in this cautionary drama told in flashback, in which we learn all about this nice boy driven to lies, crime, and the arms of a nightclub floozy by a negligent father, an alcoholic mother, and his own utter stupidity. The film's cheesy nightclub number inspires Joel and the bots to put on their own version: Gypsy lip-synchs the lyrics while the other three pop in and out of costume to play the entire audience. "Seriously, Joel, who would you accuse?" --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

I won an essay contest!

Great DVD if you're wanting to get on the MST3K bandwagon but just not sure when/how to jump on. For all that is holy, don't start with "Manos" Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Manos: Hands of Fate you need to work up to that, my friend. I would also recommend you check out "Mitchell" Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Mitchell... Others have described the movies in detail so I won't bother. Again, great starter into fandom!
January 10, 2008

Joel and the 'Bots are on their game . . .

This is some of their best work. The zingers are well delivered right on time and funny. The total package is helped along by what is somewhat of a good movie in a 40s/50s sort of way. It's a preachy story about a geeky "good kid" who goes astray due to neglectful alcoholic (but well-dressed) parents. The "kid" seems to be in his mid-30's and has to range everywhere from a brown-nosing high school dork -- to a fawning lovestruck boy -- to an armed robber. Strange but entertaining. The hottie he's stuck on does a little music number that sticks in your head. With the assistance of MST3K, this one was fun and I will revisit it. September 16, 2007

a classic from the MST3K vault

I've watched this episode over and over since it came out on DVD and for some reason the wise crackings never seem to get old. Just one of many classics for all of us MST3K fans. July 23, 2007

MST3K At It's Best!

In my humble opinion this is the best episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in that show's long history. The original cast and writers are at the peak of their powers with this one, taking an otherwise gray documentary on "Truck Farming" and an equally gray, otherwise forgettable 1940s feature (I Accuse My Parents) and turning it into comedy gold. If fans (MSTies)want to introduce news fans to this hilarious show, this is the episode to show them. From the mad scientists "Cake and Shake" invention ("A real exotic dancer inside!") to the snappy riffs of the short ("In Texas there's a further problem..." "Texans!")to the hilarious host segments (particularly the biting analysis of the mind of the film's protagonist. "You know, Joel, it could be that Jimmy's just really stupid") to the rapid-fire riffing of the main film ("I won the "Get the crap kicked out of you" contest!"), this episode is non-stop laughs that even non-fans of the show should enjoy. MST3K was one of the funniest shows in televison history, and this was its epitome. November 3, 2006

Hye, I won the essay contest!

I like to think of I Accuse My Parents as the perfect gateway MST3K episode. Not only is the movie laughably moronic in several different ways--without being as mind numbingly boring as Manos, the Hands of Fate--it's proceeded by an awesome short about truck farming and the host segments are all pretty funny as well. My sister and I got my mother to drink the cool-aid with this one, and it was made better because she was pretty sure she'd actually seen the truck farming short in school. I also indoctrinated my girlfriend with it and now it's become one of her favorites.

Yes, this is a Joel episode, but it's Joel at his best. If you don't come out of watching this with at least three or four new catch phrases added to your vocabulary, there is no hope for you at all. You should probably blame your parents for that. September 26, 2006

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