Review of Bio-Dome (1996) by Harry W — 07 Sep 2014

Bio-Dome is one of the original stoner comedies, coming after their popular boost thanks to The Big Lebowski but before the peak of the genre in the 2000's.

Of course critics worldwide would savage Bio-Dome, because Pauly Shore's comedy style is one of the most lowbrow available to man and is hilarious only to the less intelligent and those who appreciate ridiculously stupid comedy. Luckily for me, I'm one of the latter.

Bio-Dome is a spawn of the MTV generation, featuring brain dead characters and a soundtrack using only songs that are all too familiar with audiences.

Jason Bloom is clearly an inexperienced director since Bio-Dome has nothing to benefit from him directing it, but it rather all rests on the visuals, the weird situations the characters experience and whatever appeal audiences find in the lead actors. And while the script is idiotic, so are the characters so it works out.

Visually, Bio-Dome is really colourful because there is plenty of great locations that the film is shot on to create a simulated Bio-Dome, and it is rather convincing consistently. Even though Bio-Dome is an excessively stupid comedy, there are a few laughs here and there for the right viewer. And while there is no consistency, it's all a stupid venture with stupid laughs. Even though it becomes less funny when you've seen it 3 time, it can still leave a smile or cheer you up if you're unhappy if something has you down, as was the case with me the first time I watched it.

And Pauly Shore's excessively repetitive antics are so stupid that they eventually become funny, and any fan of his would appreciate his efforts in Bio-Dome. His character Bud Macintosh is one of the most dumbest ever and surely the stupidest he has ever portrayed, yet his energetic charisma at least keeps him alive and prevents him from ever becoming dull. He does a convincing job.

And although Stephen Baldwin is mostly hit and miss in the role of a character that can't match the quality of his performance in The Usual Suspects, he is a memorable image and gives Pauly Shore a good source of chemistry.

Joey Lauren Adams' sweet voice and attractive features make her a genial presence, and the sexual appeal of Dara Tomanovich and Kylie Minogue is just refreshing.

Lastly, the appearance of Tenacious D was also an entertaining sight.

The only criticism for Bio-Dome is the fact that it's simply one of the most utterly stupid films I've ever seen in my entire life.

But if you can handle some of the most stupid lowbrow humour available to the human race, then Bio-Dome is your kind of film. Just be aware that the laughs, if existent to you are not consistent.