Up in Flames Review

Distributor: Impulse Pictures Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic, Feature Film, Comedy Run Time: 60 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1973 Director: John Seeman Written by: uncredited Cast: Colleen Anderson (as Kelly Mint), Richard Mailer (as Frank Marks), Lee Utterbach (as Fred Lee), Bob Robins, John Seeman (as John Seman), Roseanne Farrow, Brenda Filbrick, Erica Havens Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Subtitles: none Video: Full Frame, 1.33:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

Up in Flames is an unauthorized blue cinema version of Gilbert Shelton's underground comic strip The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers with the addition of Robert Crumb's Mr. Natural character, which was also unauthorized. How much one will enjoy Up in Flames depends on what one is looking for within the film. Shelton's The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers dealt with drugs and counterculture.

Drugs do play a small part in Up in Flames, however, the main theme of the film is sex. The three main characters from The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers are the main characters of the film. Freewheelin' Franklin Freak, called just Frank here, played by Richard Mailer, Fat Freddie Freekowtski, just called Fat Freddie here, played by Lee Utterbach, and Phineas Phreak, played by Bob Robins. The only other recurring character from the comic is Fat Freddy's Cat, played by an actual cat. None of the other recurring comic strip characters are in the film.

While the three main characters are in the film, fans of the comic strip will notice that the Up in Flames' Furry Freak Brothers don't really resemble, physically or characteristically, their comic strip counterparts. Mr. Natural, who to the best of my knowledge never appeared within one of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers strips, played by John Seeman, is the other main character of the film. There was some more attempt to make Mr. Natural appear like his comic book namesake with the addition of a very obviously fake giant white beard. However, Mr. Natural in the film sports white hair on his head, which the comic book character didn't.

Fans of the comic strip will find Up in Flames to be a poor adult adaptation of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers that uses their names to attempt to cash in on the underground comic instead of actually trying to be an adult version of the comic. Viewers who have never read The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, or who have never seen the trailer for Grass Roots: The Movie — the Claymation The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers movie that was apparently never finished nor released — will find Up in Flames to be a cute comedic adult film.

In Up in Flames, the Freak Brothers find themselves on rent day without the money to pay their landlord Dolores (Colleen Anderson). Dolores tells them if they don't come up with the money by the end of the day, they are all out on the street. Each of the three Freak Brothers comes up with a different scheme to come up with the rent money.

Up in Flames is rather predictable in how the story plays out. There aren't many real surprises within the script. However, the story is fun and, while Up in Flames will never be a stand out in adult films, the film makes for an enjoyable hour. Some work went into making the film, someone obviously did some good set dressing for the Freak's apartment. Mr. Natural's fake beard looks rather ridiculous and it gets removed for all of the sex scenes for some reason. The film does acknowledge this, though.

The sex scenes within the film are rather standard for the period. The cast does a good job with the sex scenes and a decent job with the non-sexual portions. The sex scenes look rather standard for the period in the sex acts and how they were filmed. Up in Flames is a cute film and will provide an hour of entertainment.

Impulse Pictures has done a good job with their release of Up in Flames. Up in Flames was shot on film and the master used for this release appears to have been a film print. Up in Flames is presented in the academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1 in 480p. As can be expected for a release like this, the image contains print damage, grain, and artifacts. Colors look great. Viewers shouldn't be disappointed in this release at all.

Up in Flames is presented with an English Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural audio track. The dialog is crisp, clear, and easy to understand throughout the film. There were no noticeable issues with the audio.

Impulse Pictures hasn't included any extras on this release.

Up in Flames is sure to disappoint any fans of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers who are looking for an adult take on the comic strip. Other than the names used, there isn't much to remind one of the comic strips. If you aren't looking for an adult version of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Up in Flames is a cute adult film that is amusing and not a bad way to spend an hour. Impulse Pictures has done a good job with this release with a good image quality and good audio.

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