Ooga Booga

Director - Charles Band (Evil Bong, Gingerdead Man)
Starring - Karen Black (The Pyx, House of 1000 Corpses), Gregory Blair (Evil's Toy), and Ciarra Carter (Stella)
Release Date - 2013
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline(s) - "Racists, Beware!" and "Beyond Django"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Full Moon is a company that I absolutely love.  They do randomly release movies that I think are shit but for the most part they deliver some quality entertainment.  Growing up I was a Full Moon fan and I will remain to be one.  Hell, I even liked The Evil Bong and Gingerdead Man trilogies when most people do not.  A few months back I found out that Charles Band was at it again with another puppet movie called Ooga Booga.  Like I said before, I really enjoy Full Moon movies for the most part but something about this one just did not seem as fun as the others.  Though it did not look as fun as the other films I have came to love from Full Moon I still wanted to see it.  Luckily, I got the DVD in a trade for a few VHS tapes I had sitting around.
      The film follows an African American pre-med student that just passed all his board exams.  His girlfriend is just about to reward him with a nice piece of warm...when his friend Hambo calls him.  Hambo is the star of the children's show that was recently canned for stroking his meat before the show airs.  He calls him up to reveal his master plan of selling what he calls "Bad Ass Dolls" in hopes of making it rich quick.  The two discuss it and he leaves to head back to his girlfriend after Hambo gives him an Ooga Booga doll.  He stops to grab her a slushy where he witnesses a group of robbers shooting the store clerk and making off with the cash.  He calls the police and two racist cops arrive and shoot him assuming he was responsible.  The slushy machine shorts out causing his soul to be transported in to the Ooga Booga doll.  Ooga Booga teams up with girlfriend and brings down everyone involved with his death including the racist judge (Stacy Keach).
      I really wanted to like this movie just because it was released by Full Moon but I couldn't.  The movie seemed to be lacking everything I love about Full Moon films.  The silly gimmicks, insane characters (with the exception of Hambo and his hot assistant), and lavish deaths are really no where to be seen in this one.  The film just does not feel like a Full Moon release other than the killer puppet.  The acting is what you would come to expect from a Full Moon film.  Just like all the other films, this one is just above mediocre but nothing spectacular.  However, it is nice to see Karen Black and Stacy Keach on film.  Both have talent well beyond their years and are always delightful to watch regardless of the role.  The story is nothing new especially coming from the Full Moon camp.  Someone dies wrongfully and a puppet exacts revenge on the deceased.  Simple as that with nothing added to it except the racist aspect...which got old real quick and partially ruined the movie.  Finally, we do get some decent on screen kills and special effects.  Sadly, we do not really get a lot of either.  Not nearly as much as what I am accustomed to with other releases from Full Moon.  Overall, this is a fun watch for the first time but is nothing like what we've come to love from Full Moon.