I know you never thought I’d be back, but here I am and I come in peace! No, this isn’t some sort of apology, it’s actually an attempt to liken my absence to that of the Nazis in Iron Sky. Ok a bit of a stretch, so let’s move on.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Iron Sky is a Finnish/German/Australian collaborative production. It was crowd-funded and heavily supported by social media. For years, they ran a strong campaign to get funding and investment, as well as get community participation in the actual production.
That’s all good and well, but what about the movie itself? Well, when I first heard about it (I can’t even recall how long ago that was), I remember thinking, “Nazis in space? How could that be anything less than awesome?” You could obviously tell from the teaser art and footage that this was going to be a highly camp, over-the-top film.
On paper, this movie has all the makings of a flop:
Hits pretty much every sci-fi trope? Check.
Hits pretty much every Nazi trope? Check.
Hits pretty much every summer blockbuster trope? Check.
Glaring scientific errors that make the geek in me lose immersion? Check.
Plot holes you could pilot a starfighter wing through? Check.
Hot black lead male? Check.
Gorgeous blonde lead female? Check.
In her underwear at least once? Check.
Boiling over with pop culture parodies? Check.
Thinly veiled socio-political message? Check.
And yet, it worked. I was in hysterics pretty much from the first frame until the last. It was as though Mel Brooks had come out of retirement to make a summer blockbuster (sans swearing and crude sex jokes).
I really don’t want to spoil anything for you, because none of the teaser material (not even the first 5 minutes which I got to see a few months ago on preview) actually gives much of the story away. So let me give you a setup (not the setup; that would be telling).
In 1945 a group of Germans foresaw the war going bad and escaped to the dark side of the moon. They have licked their wounds, and now that it’s 2018, they’re ready to return, finish the Fuhrer’s work, and establish the Fourth Reich. The President of the USA (uncannily resembling Sarah Palin) is looking for a re-election strategy. She sends a male model to the moon in a publicity stunt. Hijinks ensue.
As I mentioned, Iron Sky is highly referential. I can’t begin to count the references to science fiction movies, Nazi movies, and actual history. And these references are woven seamlessly into the action. Each one was delivered with nonchalant self-awareness that only the best comedy can deliver.
So what are you waiting for? I can write all night. You should just go out and watch it! Need more convincing? Watch a trailer.