While not infrequently accused of earnestly chatting movie-based Mumbo Jumbo, never once have 'they' said I watched it! But, I have, so I'm here to set things straight, mayte! I'm easily beguiled by the teasing prospect of an eclectic cast, not always rewardingly, and this 'The Mumbo Jumbo' bakes the B-Movie biscuit!!!! This sugary, over-egged comedy confection contains Jamie Walters (Chick Flick), Brian Blessed (Man of La Mancha), Melinda Messenger (Fort Boyard), Richard O'Brien (Urban Gothic), Joss Ackland (The Mind Snatchers), Sylvester McCoy (Tiswas), John Inman (The Tall Guy), Brian Murphy (Wizadora), and reliably stern Nigel Davenport(The Mind of Mr. Soames). Our cynical hero Thomas Doubting (Jamie Walters) is fatefully given a mystical amulet which dramatically heralds a bizarre, if not entirely cogent narrative of madcap jackanapes on the whimsical fantasy island of 'Sinmouth', wherein the absurdly eccentric locals foolhardily believe DT to be the legendary, good fortune bestowing 'The Mumbo Jumbo'!
Director Cookson is to be lauded for his grand cinematic ambition, but the final execution isn't quite so credible, arguably a cult movie with a small 'c', 'The Mumbo Jumbo' is at best a patchy affair, but it is the kind of cinematic oddity one experiences all too rarely, and while, perhaps, the over-arching director Stephen Cookson's greatest flight of fantasy was in thinking that he could maintain any degree of cogency with this episodic, fitfully fabulous family comedy, but, as the man said, film's a journey, not a destination, man!!!! The perky blonde-brained princess 'Vanilla' is appropriately monikered, but, hey, I wouldn't say no! Happily, Stentorian Thespian Brian Blessed bellows a lot, Richard O'Brien reliably essays his patent 'rent-a-kook' shtick, and there's an 'exuberant' dance sequence featuring 'legendary' hoofer John Inman that, er, wrong-footed me in all the best ways!!! 'The Mumbo Jumbo' sporadically reminded me of quirky kids fantasy show 'Into The Labyrinth' (1981), but, sadly, Messenger 'aint no Pamela Salem!
