Joe Stemme Right along the heels of THE GROOVE TUBE and KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE, came this foray into catch-all feature length spoof movies. TUNNEL VISION may have the most coherent plot of the three, but, alas, also the fewest laughs. I hate the term "dated", but TUNNEL VISION certainly qualifies if you must use the term. Postulating a future where an unregulated TV network could literally become the opiate of the masses, TUNNEL VISION, has the misfortune of pre-dating an era where cable and (later) satellite TV (not to mention the internet) made such raunchy material commonplace on the airwaves (or on your desktop). That fact isn't what truly hurts the film, it's the scatter-shot attempts at humor that too often fails that does. Indeed, the wrap-around story is what works best. Set in the year 1985, the TV network becomes the center of a Government inquiry into its massive popularity (and alleged negative consequences). There are numerous Nixon jokes and the like that, as is often the case in such "futuristic" endeavors, play much more to the thoughts and fears of the year the film was MADE in as opposed to the year it is SET in. Some of the jokes require a I LOVE THE 70'S primer to "get". More disappointingly, the low budget production design makes little or no attempt to depict a film 20 years in the future. The dark finale fits in well with the Post-Watergate conspiratorial era.A few funny gags, not to mention appearances by a virtual Who's Who (and Who was to become WHO's) such as Al Franken, Howard Hesseman, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Laraine Newman, Betty Thomas (a surprisingly sexy performance), Chevy Chase etc. will keep you watching, if not laughing out loud. Considering the supposedly taboo-breaking nature of the Tunnel Vision TV network, there is precious little nudity to go along with the language, violence, and subject matter. In a trivia note, the one full-on nude scene is by Oscar Nominated Film Editor Dody Dorn (MEMENTO).

blackxmas If you don't think today's American comedies have been dumbed down, you should give TUNNEL VISION a look. Crude and tasteless, extremely dated, but very, very smart. It's amazing how many jokes you miss because here, it's all in the writing. Sure, kids today won't get a lot of the 70's pop and political references, but if you actually paid attention in your history and political science classes (as well as TNN and TVLAND), it shouldn't be a problem. Can you say that about TOMCATS and AMERICAN PIE? The wraparound segments of a federal hearing pertaining to the effects on the nation for watching the Tunnel Vision network are eerily prophetic given the current Media Marketing Responsibility Act Lieberman and Clinton and Kohl are trying to push. Politically Correct viewers may balk at some of the bits on race, but the film skewers everybody, plus it's obvious that there's more going on then just a cheap laugh at different minority (and majority) groups' expense. TUNNEL VISION is more than just an old sketch comedy movie from the 70's, and it's sad that most modern comedies can't approach the cerebral humor on display here.

G-Man-25 It's extremely dated, dopey and wildly uneven, but there are still some pretty good laughs to be had in this short collection of skits that take a look at what "television of the future" will be like (?) Even if the humor isn't your cup of tea, it's worth a look just to spot the large cast of then-unknown and up-and-coming comedy talent. Rent it with the similarly-themed "The Groove Tube" for an evening of mindless juvenile fun.

Tito-8 If you're a fan of rampant racism, tired jokes that were never funny, and general all-out tastelessness, then perhaps you should give this film a look. Otherwise, avoid this film at all costs. It's truly amazing that people like Chevy Chase and Betty Thomas managed to have successful careers when you consider that there was a time when they decided that roles in "Tunnelvision" would be intelligent career choices. Blecch.