Stingray Sam

I cannot give this film anything other than a 10. It is too unique and charming to be given anything lower. I like different films. I don't want to watch the same thing again and again and every so often an oddball unique talent comes out fully formed.

The plot is about a galactic lounge singer and an old friend being reunited and recruited by some government go to various planets in search of a kidnapped girl. Describing the plot does nothing to describe the film at all. The film is a series of set pieces or vignettes with a musical number in each scene. The music is funny, well performed, memorable and the set pieces often humorously surreal although near the end there are some sweet scenes played to lullaby music.

It's as if is a tight group of stage performers and friends have come together to make a simple charming film. You are not likely to see the likes of it again anytime soon. I prefer the American Astronaut another Cory Mcabee film, possibly because I saw it first, but more likely because the sci-fi elements are more unique. The sci-fi humour in Stingray Sam is similar to Douglas Adams dry, good natured, surrealist. The sci-fi in the American Astronaut is more 1920's Art Nouveau and I haven't seen it being done before or at least not so successfully.