National Lampoon Presents: Robodoc

By Cyril Pearl -- Video Business, 9/15/2008

Street: Oct. 21

Prebook: Sept. 16

> Weak hospital comedy sports the National Lampoon brand … and not much else.

Robodoc is not quite Robocop meets Young Doctors in Love, but the title is cute. The film gets some tired laughs out of its story about an android doctor (William Haze) created by a scientist (David Faustino) to diagnose and cure any medical problem at North Mercy Hospital, which has a growing docket of malpractice suits. Older, nearly forgotten funny men John Byner, Michael Winslow and Alan Thicke are the recognizable faces who preside over this obvious collection of medical and sex jokes and the occasional jab at the national issue of medical coverage and insurance.

Shelf Talk: This latest National Lampoon-branded comedy is not unlike other weak titles in the label’s recent output (Pledge This!, anyone?). The extent that the Lampoon movies still hold any sway over aging frat boys (Animal House was nearly 30 years ago) will determine the reception for this one. The box image of sexy starlet Kristia Knowles clad in sexy nurse garb doesn’t hurt.

Comedy, color, R (language, brief nudity, sexual situations), 90 min., DVD $26.95

Extras: none

Director: Stephen Maddocks

First Run: DVD premiere