TANK GIRL (1995)

 

I've also only brief acquaintance with the Australian comic TANK GIRL, and, again based on memory, I would have to say that the 1995 film does not represent the spirit of the raucous 1988 comics feature. Ironically, though the live-action portion of the film fails to keep the proper tone, there are occasionally cartoon-inserts throughout the continuity, done in the style of the original comics-artists, and these suggest that a full animated feature might've been a better way to go.

It's another post-apocalyptic future, this time caused by a comet that strikes Earth and obliterates a lot of the planet's water-supply, In Australia a tyrannical combine, the Water and Power Corporation, attempts to corner the remaining water market, but they often suffer attacks by mysterious attackers called "Rippers." In addition, Water and Power-- run the megalomaniacl Kesslee (Malcolm McDowell)-- discovers a scruffy little commune with their own well, so they decimate the commune and take prisoner a young woman named Rebecca (Lori Petty). However, during her captivity-- which seems unusually lax-- the Rippers invade the W & P facility and nearly slay Kesslee. With the help of "Jet Girl," a young woman with great mechanical talent, the heroine steals a tank from W & P, at which point she morphs into the titular "Tank Girl." While the two young women go in search of other allies, not least the Rippers, W & P uses extraordinary technology to resurrect Kesslee in a sort of holographic cyborg-body. Naturally, he then wants revenge on everyone associated with his near-death, particularly the defiant Tank Girl.

Budgeted at about $25 million-- incidentally, about a third of MYSTERY MEN's budget-- TANK GIRL looks like a lot less was spent, particularly when the script introduces us to the Rippers, who are (for the most part) humans who have been genetically crossbred with kangaroos. Considering that director Rachel Talalay made a much better movie-- A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4-- for less than half the cost of TANK GIRL, the fault would seem to lie in an overly jokey script and poor development of characters. Lead actress Lori Petty makes a game try to incarnate the boisterous spirit of the comics-character, but the script gives her only dull psuedo-western cliches to work with. Malcolm McDowell has a considerably easier time of it playing the tyrannical Kesslee, but a strong villain can't save a film with a weakly conceived hero.

Allegedly Talalay is currently attempting to reboot the franchise with a new film. I'd still say that an animated feature would be the way to go, but after the critical embrace of MAD MAX FURY ROAD, a new outing for the girl with the big tank could only be an improvement over this outing.