Showgirls (1995)

[CapricaSixSixSix 100]

How has this not even been mentioned yet? It's such a classic. And such an epic fail at attempting something edgy and sexy.

[CapricaSixSixSix 100]

How has this not even been mentioned yet? It's such a classic. And such an epic fail at attempting something edgy and sexy.

[Fariha Imami 0]

How did this get made will not be taken seriously if you don't cover showgirls. Please guys you must do it. And get Joel McHale as the guest. It will complete my life (as you can tell there is not much going on in my life).

[evie 0]

Yeah guys, do this movie. With in the first 10 minutes I couldn't believe how bad it was. I mean this is just atrocious. Nomi has the shortest temper I've ever witnessed. She threw so much crap.

And Jason has talked about it before and I'm sure his commentary would be hilarious.

[Peter_Awesome 28]

This is pretty much a no-brainer. Do iiiiiiiit.

[Jabrak 3]

Am I the only one who is confused as to why this wonderful movie hasn't been done yet. It is just a crazy movie that needs a review.

[PlanBFromOuterSpace 3138]

I'm pretty surprised that they haven't covered it either, and I'm sure that it HAD to be suggested somewhere in the thread already. Maybe everyone just assumes it's been done already, because it was MADE for this show.

 

I actually saw "Showgirls" in the theater and was SO psyched because I'd just turned 17, it was the first and only wide release for an NC-17 flick, and it was playing at my local theater in Idaho Falls, Idaho! I was probably expecting wall-to-wall hardcore porn, but what I got was a movie that seemed like it was WRITTEN by a 17-year-old that had never so much as SEEN a boob in real life and had some crazy, backwards idea of what "sexy" meant. This movie did the unthinkable and made a teenage boy stop caring that Jessie from "Saved by the Bell" was going to be topless for 2 hours. That said, the edited-for-TV version with it's bad CG censoring is GOLD.

[RyanSz 3140]

This movie was Striptease before Striptease. It took the idea that someone thought, "a Vegas movie centering on viewpoint showgirls/whores will be pure gold" and instead made it utterly 90s. From the Michael Bolton-esque rocker who beats up the best friend to switchblades and the artist friend whose shitty studio apartment only has a bed with silk sheets, and needless lesbian kissing. At least this movie gave what it offered in Elizabeth Berkley being nude A LOT in the movie while Striptease sold the movie on the idea of Demi Moore being topless and in the end she was only topless for a few fleeting moments

[jarrycanada 2483]

for your consideration paul, do what you do best!

[DartanganMcgee 30]

You would almost have to get Dave Attell for this one right?

[Lando 2019]

I love this movie. The "Thinly Veiled Kenny G" gang rape scene is one of the best examples of unintentional comedy I have ever seen.

[Shannon 2953]

I love this movie. The "Thinly Veiled Kenny G" gang rape scene is one of the best examples of unintentional comedy I have ever seen.

 

Really? Cause it's the reason I don't watch this movie for funsies anymore. I'd only seen bits and pieces of the actual movie, but I'd seen the entire edited one with the painted on bras on VH1 a million times and so I fucking loved it because it was just the campy stuff. Then, last Christmas I got the giant box set in a while elephant game (it comes with shot glasses and a drinking game) so natch I got some people who had never seen it before together for a good time of watching Showgirls but man oh man is the NC-17 version different than the VH1 version. I mean I figured there would be boobs but the extremely aggressive sexual dancing for Kyle Mclaughlin scenes I was not prepared for. I wanted to run out of the room because there was nothing sexy about it and I was just embarrassed for everyone involved. So anyway, toward the end of the movie the party is getting a little bummed out because the fun seems to be slowing down and then BOOM horrifying gang rape scene. We were completely silent for a few minutes. Like, it completely and totally sucked out any fun that was left in the movie. Ugh, I still feel a little sick thinking about it now.

 

yeah, so I gave my Showgirls box set in white elephant this christmas.

[RyanSz 3140]

 

Really? Cause it's the reason I don't watch this movie for funsies anymore. I'd only seen bits and pieces of the actual movie, but I'd seen the entire edited one with the painted on bras on VH1 a million times and so I fucking loved it because it was just the campy stuff. Then, last Christmas I got the giant box set in a while elephant game (it comes with shot glasses and a drinking game) so natch I got some people who had never seen it before together for a good time of watching Showgirls but man oh man is the NC-17 version different than the VH1 version. I mean I figured there would be boobs but the extremely aggressive sexual dancing for Kyle Mclaughlin scenes I was not prepared for. I wanted to run out of the room because there was nothing sexy about it and I was just embarrassed for everyone involved. So anyway, toward the end of the movie the party is getting a little bummed out because the fun seems to be slowing down and then BOOM horrifying gang rape scene. We were completely silent for a few minutes. Like, it completely and totally sucked out any fun that was left in the movie. Ugh, I still feel a little sick thinking about it now.

 

yeah, so I gave my Showgirls box set in white elephant this christmas.

 

So Showgirls is your version of The Ring where you have to push it off onto another unsuspecting victim before you die?

[Lando 2019]

I guess that's just where we differ. I don't take rape lightly at all, but felt like that scene was so cartoonish that it didn't seem real at all. However, I can see only being familiar with it via the TV edit version and not see that coming.

[inactiveuser501 168]

 

Really? Cause it's the reason I don't watch this movie for funsies anymore...So anyway, toward the end of the movie the party is getting a little bummed out because the fun seems to be slowing down and then BOOM horrifying gang rape scene. We were completely silent for a few minutes. Like, it completely and totally sucked out any fun that was left in the movie. Ugh, I still feel a little sick thinking about it now.

 

 

Agreed, it took me a while to get together my thoughts on the movie after the rape scene (Just saw it recently, I heard about it, but thought it was implied rape, not screams and tears). I couldn't tell if I hated Showgirls or if that Rape scene was just so dark enough that it sunk the rest of the camp-filled joy the production had. I also think Verhoeven-Eszterhas added that in to offset the camp, and remind people that they were trying to make an insightful drama or satire or whatever the hell their aim was.

 

With that being said, it still is the craziest thing in the movie. Why, for starters, does the Body Guard and not Michael Bolton look-a-like rape her? Why are they still at the gala? When Molly (the friend) stumbles out bloodied and collapses, does no one check where she came from? Where did Michael Bolton look-a-like go? And Where are the police? The doctors said she suffered assault to her face and vaginal tearing, is that NOT ENOUGH to WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION?! Why do they think they can get away with it? Do they honestly think Molly, probably the most moral person in the movie, WON'T TALK?!?!

 

That scene angered me in more ways that I thought it would. And that alone warrants a complete autopsy of this film on HDTGM (But I will skip on the rewatch)

[Beef Hardcake 0]

No question; this movie is perfect fodder for HDTGM.

[Lando 2019]

With that being said, it still is the craziest thing in the movie. Why, for starters, does the Body Guard and not Michael Bolton look-a-like rape her? Why are they still at the gala? When Molly (the friend) stumbles out bloodied and collapses, does no one check where she came from? Where did Michael Bolton look-a-like go? And Where are the police? The doctors said she suffered assault to her face and vaginal tearing, is that NOT ENOUGH to WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION?! Why do they think they can get away with it? Do they honestly think Molly, probably the most moral person in the movie, WON'T TALK?!?!

 

Don't you know? Big smooth jazz has a tight grip on Vegas.

[4567TME 1]

I'm honestly surprised after almost 60 episodes, they haven't done this yet.

[seanotron 2307]

I feel like this falls into the same category as the Star Wars prequels or Indy 4 - it's been discussed to death. There's literally nothing left to say about it. I'd rather they find something that hasn't been dissected so thoroughly.

[inactiveuser501 168]

I feel like this falls into the same category as the Star Wars prequels or Indy 4 - it's been discussed to death. There's literally nothing left to say about it. I'd rather they find something that hasn't been dissected so thoroughly.

 

Disagree. If they can do the thoroughly discussed "Batman and Robin" and "The Room", then Showgirls can be on this list too. The reason that Indy 4 and Star Wars get a pass is because, in my view, a lot of the hatred came from fan-based reactions from expectations not being met. Showgirls is just straight-up crazo from minute 1.

 

But I feel like if they do it, it would be on a 100th episode type deal. And I don't know why, but something in my gut says June hasn't seen it, so I want a reaction!

[seanotron 2307]

The Room was a special case because they had someone that worked on the movie. The Batman & Robin episode was funny but I felt it did suffer from covering such an overdone movie. I stand by my assessment on this. Showgirls is the definitive bad movie and there's just nothing much left to say about it.

[wakefresh 689]

I'm pretty surprised that they haven't covered it either, and I'm sure that it HAD to be suggested somewhere in the thread already. Maybe everyone just assumes it's been done already, because it was MADE for this show.

 

I actually saw "Showgirls" in the theater and was SO psyched because I'd just turned 17, it was the first and only wide release for an NC-17 flick, and it was playing at my local theater in Idaho Falls, Idaho! I was probably expecting wall-to-wall hardcore porn, but what I got was a movie that seemed like it was WRITTEN by a 17-year-old that had never so much as SEEN a boob in real life and had some crazy, backwards idea of what "sexy" meant. This movie did the unthinkable and made a teenage boy stop caring that Jessie from "Saved by the Bell" was going to be topless for 2 hours. That said, the edited-for-TV version with it's bad CG censoring is GOLD.

 

This movie does make you tired of seeing boobs, and that's an near impossible feat. But damned if they didn't do it. I too saw this as a teenager and was immediately bored. The Skinamax night-time movies like "Caged Heat" had more sexy going on than this.

[AriannAdams 3]

It's a great movie to bash, everything is horrible about Showgirls. I own the special edition box set with pin on the pasties, shot glasses with drinking playing cards. Also there is already a great commentary from a gentleman who went to colleges everywhere showing how bad Showgirls is. Along with Scores strippers doing a play by play of what happens at strip clubs, and what cannot happen. I know many other films have been discussed to death but this one would totally feel like overkill. Now the CG Showgirls, that could be new territory.

[PhillipMedoc 648]

there is already a great commentary from a gentleman who went to colleges everywhere showing how bad Showgirls is.

Registered here to post this very tidbit. Seattle alt-weekly writer David Schmader would host screenings of this in the late 90s/early 00s and provide ongoing commentary. He ended up recording a version for the "VIP" edition of the DVD, which is totally worth paying money for; if you're going to watch this wretched mess, he's a good companion. The live show with an audience absolutely killed, though.

 

I think Showgirls would be a great episode, despite its notoriety -- which has definitely waned in the last couple of decades in the face of newer, "worst ever" movies like The Room, Birdemic, etc. These have all been picked apart by many folks, many times but there is a quality to spectacular failure which is strangely compelling.

 

There's a great book called Fiasco which covers several infamous Hollywood flops (Ishtar, Waterworld, Last Action Hero, etc) and has a chapter on Showgirls. The whole thing is a good read and you can pick it up used on the cheap.

 

Really, all I think about this movie is: poor, poor Kyle MacLachlan.

[inactiveuser501 168]

 

I think Showgirls would be a great episode, despite its notoriety -- which has definitely waned in the last couple of decades in the face of newer, "worst ever" movies like The Room, Birdemic, etc. These have all been picked apart by many folks, many times but there is a quality to spectacular failure which is strangely compelling.

 

 

That's what I'm saying! Guys, it's almost been 20 years since Showgirls has come out. That is insane, and to think that there may be people who listen to the show and have never seen it warrants a one last hoorah for the most spectacular failure in movie history!

 

And if you could get Kyle MacLachlan or Gina Gershon to come on, I will just explode into anticipation.