Retro Review: 'Tank Girl'
During the late 80's through the 90's comic adaptations were not solely for mainstream
In the future the ecology of planet earth is ruined by a comet-caused disaster. In this new world, the evil Water & Power seizes control of all the water they can. In their pursuit of power they cross paths with a tough and screwy woman named Rebecca. After kidnapping a girl she shares a bond with and killing everyone else she is close to, Rebecca knows it's time for payback. She steals one of their tanks which she personalizes in order to take the fight to Water & Power. Joining forces with her sidekick Jet Girl and a community of human/kangaroo hybrids known as Rippers, the woman known as Tank Girl fights back.
In an era where comic-based flicks are made to be clean crisp CGI-laden spectacles with massive budgets, it is refreshing to see one made with a loud and vibrant punk rock
The cast of Tank Girl seem not to have any qualms about this tone and ham it up to perfection. It all starts at the top with Rebecca AKA Tank Girl herself Lori Petty who is absolutely hysterical in her manic performance. She says and does anything that pops into her head no matter what the repercussions might be. Her character is one who did not set out to be a superhero or anything of the like, rather she is an accidental antihero thanks to the evils of Water & Power. Along the way she finds the ideal sidekick in Naomi Watts' Jet Girl who is meek and quiet enough to be the perfect springboard for her lunacy. Tank Girl's equally hammy foil is character actor as B-movie legend Malcolm McDowell who, much like Raul Julia in Street Fighter, knows what kind of movie he is in and is obviously having a blast chewing up scenery as a grandiose
Tank Girl is anarchy-driven madcap fun the likes of which is rarely seen in film. It is bold, brash and strange while being completely unapologetic for what it is. Sadly many of those involved with the film feel embarrassed by it, but that has not curtailed the love it's cult audience has for it. Word has recently been let out that Margot Robbie is going to attempt a remake of the film (because if there's one thing we don't have enough of right now it's remakes and reboots) but I can not help but feel that this film was lightning in a bottle. Any attempts to recapture what made it great would probably only come off as a pale imitation. If you have bought into the hype that this is a ''bad movie" do yourself a favor and go see it and make up your own mind.