Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV

I had a difficult time reviewing this movie.

On the one hand, it was another opportunity to see Debbie Rochon.

On the other hand, I would have liked to see her in something else.

On one hand, I have to cheer for a movie that includes a role that I can actually play. Lardass rules!

On the other hand, I really got grossed out when the diaper gang guy pooped in his pants. Yech! On one hand, I can certainly cheer a superhero that takes breaks to have sex with his wife (Heidi Sjursen).

On the other hand, I am deeply offended at the multiple uses of the "R" word for the developmentally disabled. I consider that as offensive as the "N" word.

One one hand, I like Dolphin Man, The Vibrator, Masterbater, Sgt. Kabukiman and Mad Cowboy. That's some interesting superheros.

On the other hand, the are some really outrageous scenes in this movie that will certainly be offensive to many.

On the one hand, Tromas TV was hilarious.

On the other hand, this movie, while outrageous, was no worse than watching Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, so I'll give it the same rating.

There are some Troma films that are just plain bad- and not in a good way. But I still watch them, and kinda like them just because they are Troma films. It is like drinking coffee without cream and sugar. It is bitter; I didn't always like it that way; but I aquired a taste for it. But "Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV" is actually an amazingly entertaining and creative movie that non-Troma fans

could enjoy.

As usual, this film is not for the squeamish with all of its creative gore. The gore isn't realistic by any means. It is quite obvious that you are seeing a melon with a mask and wig being smashed, etc. And anyone could take offense to

something in the film if they actually believed Kaufman was serious- but he isn't. I have the unrated directors edition, so I don't know what the difference is from the R version, but I wouldn't invite my fellow members from church over to watch it.

This film doesn't drag on. The story is even kind of clever- not just Toxie going around and saving the day. Lots of good gags, creative gore scenes, and the

usual nudity sprinkled throughout. The porn Godfather Ron Jeremy plays

Troma's mayor as well. Unfortunately it is rare to find any Troma DVDs new or old in Blockbuster or Hollywood Video stores. So your best bet is to either find a privately owned business that carries lots of independent titles or cough up a few extra bucks to buy it. The DVD is a 2 disc collector's edition and is the director's cut- unrated. There is lots of goodies on the DVD including a 95

minute documentary called "Apocalypse Soon: The Making of Citizen Toxie".

Its always a problem to review a Troma movie. Troma is a genre unto itself, and you can't compare their movies to what everyone else is doing. They have their own rules and esthetics... and going by those, this is the best film to come out of Troma in years!

Without doubt, this is the most over-the-top, all-out assault on good taste Troma's put out. They even had the good idea to include an apology for Toxic Avenger Parts II & III. The movie is overloaded with gore, sex, breasts, political incorrectness, breasts, sex, lesbians, transsexuals, mutant superheroes... and did I mention sex, breasts and gore?

Yes, it has no socially redeeming value whatsoever. Its Troma. It's not supposed to. If you're a Troma fan, see it. If you're not, you probably won't like it. Unless you do.

The screening I saw was just this past weekend at the Renegade Film Festival in St. Petersburg, FL. The copy was an advanced screening, and according to the festival promoters the editing on the film was completed just in time for the festival, so I don't know how people were seeing this months ago or why the date listed is 1999 on here...

...must...buy...this...movie

*faints* ---

citizen toxie made my heart swell up with joy and pride and almost made me forget my stomach's severe cries of indigestion... but thats what you get for sneaking in celery-flavored soda into a movie theatre, right?

when the troma school for the very special is attacked by a creepy murderous infant-gang... toxie if off to save the day! somehow... dum da dum da... he is sucked into some crazy vortex-inter-dimensional land of amortville! tromaville's opposite! but how can toxie get back and make all right with the world?! and who is noxie?! you gotta watch it and find out... you wont be disappointed!! siiigh... theres just something about the toxic avenger that is just ultimately sexy and thrilling and rock-star glamorous. now go get yer paws on a copy!

I tried to visualize what a story meeting for this would be like.

"Let's think of everything you CANNOT put in a movie these days...and DO IT!" (applause and agreement) However extreme your humor tastes might be...this will STILL make you squirm. This makes TEAM America look like Davey and Goliath.

If you have a total, annoying, political correctness extremist acquaintance, you can exact a satisfying revenge by screening this for him or her that might put an end to your relationship. And, be sure to read through the final credits. Perhaps the most creative laugh is contained therein (look for "famous movie lines").

Any film that casts Ron Jeremy as a religious town mayor must be worth a look. I hope Troma stays well. There's room for their brand of humor. Without extremes, we'd never know where the "middle" is.