CWAJD: On the Side of the Feminists

Okay! Here’smy review of, andcommentary on ‘‘Cannibal Women inthe Avocado Jungle of Death’’.

This isthe story of Margot, the Feminist Stud- ies Ethno-History professor (Shannon Tweed), who is sent by the US Military into the Avo- cado Jungle to find a mysterious tribe called the Piranha Women, who have sex with men and then eat them with guacamole. Margot takes with her Bunny, a Home Ec major and beach bunny who wants to go into Feminist Studies. Their mission is to find the Piranha Women and convince them to retire to a sub- division in Malibu, thus freeing up a huge supply of avocadoes (necessary to defeat the Russians, don’t youknow).

Thiswasadamn goodmovie! Trueenough, it’s definitely a B-movie, and as such, is basically rather silly. However, it’s much better than mostlosttribejunglemovies. This is actually worth seeing. It’s a movie that is essentially bouncing a jew stereotyped characters off of each other and seeing what happens, but it is done in amovie with some depth of plot.

This film involves a lotof social commentary. I'smaking fun of B-movies. It’s making fun of the US Military and Cold War tactics. It’s making fun of chauvinism and feminism, al- though this movie is clearly on the feminists’ Side. Itmakes fun of California beach bunnies and frathouse jerks, university administrators, and especially anthropological expeditions.

Isthismovieanti-feminist? Idon’tthinkso. It Pokes a little fun at some of the stock lines of feministrhetoric, but it’salways on their side. For instance, Margot and Bunny walk into a beerhall, and a scuzzy-looking guy says ‘Hey, chickies, can I buy you a drink?’’ Margot plies, “*No, thank you” and looksaway. The Scuzz jumps up, bellowing ‘*When I offer to buy achick a drink, I expect...” Margot pulls Suther gun and aimsit between hiseyes, saying Tam notachick! Iam an Ethno-Historian. a I understand that your need to assault nu 4s a result of your exposure to the ; cnt images of the Western media, so I +°2'tblow yourheadofft”” Thescuzzthanked “rand slithered away.

Is this movie pornographic? Well, now, let’s see. There’s a few shots of breasts in the opening scene. It’sno big deal, really. They’re breasts, they ’rethere. The Piranha Women are shapely young women who aren’t wearing a whole lot of clothing, but the camera isn’t focusing on that, and itdoesn’thavemuchto do with the movie. Ifmen in a jungle tribe were wearing exactly the same amountof clothing, nobody would complain that it was porno-

There is also the question that is frequently broughtup inrelation to this film of the ‘‘gang rape’’ ofBunny. Ah, yes. Well, letmetell you aboutthis scene. While travelling through the Avocado Jungle, Margot, Bunny and Jim (the gold-chain-bedecked chauvinist scumball -- yes, that’s really his role in the movie) meetup witha tribe of gentlemen who spend their time crocheting potholders and perfecting their tuna casserole recipes. They also make great hot cocoa. This completely offends Jim’sconcept of masculinity, so he teaches them to drink beer, read Penthouse, and verbally assault women. Jim then passes out from the beer, moments before Bunny comes out ofher tent, saying thatshecouldn’tsleep and wondered if the guyscouldmakeher some hotcocoa. The guys then turn onher, using all the lines that Jim has just taught them, and back Bunny up toa tree. She yells forthemto getoffofher, Margot comes out and fires a gun into the air, and the

guysrunaway.

I’dsay thatthis scene isnotadvocating rapeor ‘*taking women down’ ifthey step outofline. It is, however, saying that Western society tells men that they are supposed to act vio- lently towards women, and this scene shows how stupid they are when they do. Sorry, [don’t see anything wrong with that.

Through the rest ofthe movie, Margotrecon- ciles the two duelling tribes in the jungle (the Piranha Women like theirmen withguacamole, the Barracuda Women like theirs with clam dip) by having them set up biweekly commit- teemeetings (accompanied by some commen- tary on useless infighting in the women’s movement). She also challenges the anthro- pologist who preceded her into the jungle for compromising her academic ethics and ex- ploiting the Piranha Women to write a book and gether tenure. Finally, Margot leaves the

jungle with Bunny, Jim, and Jacques, anintel- ligent, well-muscled would-be feminist scholar.

This is, inand ofitself, agood movie with alot ofvery clever satire init. Itmakes good use of

"This was a damn good movie."

relatively simple characters to throw into re- lief prevalent academic and social attitudes, and to poke fun atanthropologists. Asateach- ing tool, itis agood idea. Isitthe deepestmovie evermade? Hell, no! Isitworthseeing? Sure!

You go too far

Who are you?

remove my right

to judge

moral, immoral

my decision

Youscream, rant

declare your role to defend

women

from whom? .

no balance

Equality?

Rabid

chauvinist

don’ tspeak

forme

Ispeak for myself Who are you?