Monks Of Death, Sheep On A Secret Mission, And Dennis RodmanReviewed by Robert I. Hedges, 2010-02-03
"Simon Sez" is a piece of absurdist action insanity starring
basketball legend Dennis "I Have Piercings Everywhere" Rodman as
Simon, a former CIA agent now working for INTERPOL. You know when
you put this bad boy in the DVD player that it isn't going to be
good, so let's just get it out of the way and confirm that, yes,
it's a terrible movie. It's so bad, though, that for aficionados of
B-movies, it qualifies as "so bad it's good."
As for the plot, Rodman is working on a case in the south of France
when CIA washout Nick Miranda (Dane Cook) drops in on him, in the
process rendering the remainder of the movie unbearable as anything
other than camp flick. Nick is the most annoying spy ever, and
wishes he could exude the calm of Simon, but continuously does
exactly the wrong thing. His performance will make the higher
conscious functionality of your brain scream for mercy. The beauty
of the French Rivera is no match for the squalor of this
picture.
The storyline goes on to feature a remote control fly and Simon's
colleagues, two dancing monks ("We're monks of death!"), one of
which is so overweight it's both mesmerizing and disgusting to
watch the hideousness of his dance moves. There is a damsel in
distress (of course), a sexy ex-girlfriend of Simon's now working
for the enemy, an evil arms dealer with WMD ambitions, blackmail, a
love story, and sheep on a secret mission. Sound good? There are
some way over-the-top fight and chase scenes, variously involving a
shopping cart ride down some stairs, a motorcycle chase in a
church, and more martial arts than you can shake a stick at,
courtesy of Xin Xin Xiong.
The film is a spoof I suppose, or at least harkens back to many
other films, including every Bond movie ever made, "Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang" (the flying car scene is worth it's weight in lead),
"The Pink Panther Strikes Again" (big lasers always attract super
villains), "The Andy Griffith Show" (Nick should aspire to be as
rugged a lawman as Barney Fife), "Dr. Who", and "Mission
Impossible". In other words, it's an amalgam of good ideas added
together in horrible proportions, like cedar plank salmon glazed in
dark chocolate and sauerkraut, crowned with a single maraschino
cherry.
I won't reveal the conclusion (and I don't even want to think about
Nick's finale), but suffice it to say you won't be surprised though
you will be relieved. There is also a "Making Of" featurette for
those who wish to know more about this piece of cinematic genius.
The film deserves one star (less in a just world), but I had to
give it three for connoisseurs of the best of the worst. Critics
hated this film, and it deserves it's reputation. People who love
bad movies, I mean who really, really love bad movies should test
their courage here.
"Simon Sez" makes an excellent gift for the movie lover who thinks
they have been hardened by Ed Wood, Herschell Gordon Lewis, and
Larry Buchanan. Are they as strong as they think they are? Test
them with a dose of Rodman and Cook. Only the strong survive.
NO SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Reviewed by Joanne Frances, 2009-08-24
ORDERED BEFORE JULY 4TH.
STILL NOT RECEIVED
EMAILS NEVER ANSWERED
NO CREDIT GIVEN
I JUST WANT THE 2 DVD'S I ORDERED
Simon SezReviewed by Wayne, 2009-08-22
I previously had this movie on VHS. It was Humorous and action packed. If you like a great fun action movie then this ones for you. Oh their is a couple corney spots but overall I loved it.
Simon SezReviewed by Jane Doe, 2007-02-14
This movie was one of those movies that was so dumb that it was funny. I liked it because it had Dane Cook in it. He is one of the greatest comedians that I know of.
Cult-Worthy, perhapsReviewed by Eric T. Schulz, 2005-08-27
This movie is ridiculous, as you might expect considering Dennis Rodman is not only an actor in it, he's the LEAD actor. However, Dane Cook is in it, and he's one of the funniest men alive. Perhaps he doesn't shine in this movie, but for such a cheap price, it's still worth it. I've seen other reviews that say if you like bad movies, or are in the mood for one, that would be a good time to watch. That captures the point of this movie precisely. If you're looking for a good action movie, look elsewhere, but if you're a fan of Dane Cook (and if you've heard his act, you probably are), or you can enjoy cheesy movies, then it's worth it.