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"Mamma Mia!: The Sing-Along Edition" opens today! Our suggestions for other interactive-ready movies

The "sing-along" edition of the smash movie musical Mamma Mia! opens in theaters today. Now you can experience the irresistable frothiness and join in, as the lyrics to the ABBA songs will be plastered along the bottom of the screen. In lieu of a bouncing ball to guide you, the words to sing will be helpfully highlighted in the exact shade of Agnetha's blue eye shadow.*

As fun as this sounds on paper, it could actually be the most terrifying audience participation gimmick since John Waters passed out scratch and sniff "smell-a-vision" cards for Polyester (ooh ... pepperoni pizza! ...a dirty jock strap!).

Well, it got us thinking of some other movies that could be re-released to theaters with their own audience participation gimmicks. We only wish we had stock in these films, because there's more gold to be mined!

* may not be true

Showgirls: The Hoot-Along Edition

Yes, now you can revisit this camp classic, and bring along your friends! Fake ice cubes will be passed out at the entrance, so you can participate in the infamous "tweaking" scene. Hoot and holler at the screen as Nomi Malone has a naked seizure in the swimming pool! And follow the bouncing caffeine pill as it highlights such classic lines as "I used to love Doggy Chow, too!"

Brokeback Mountain: The Weep-Along Edition

I have a confession to make: I've only seen Brokeback Mountain once. I saw it in the theater, and it left me so shaken, I could barely drive home. I don't think I could handle the emotional impact again ... unless! If they gave a group discount, so I could have shoulders to cry on, and gave out boxes of tissues at the door, I might be tempted to give it another go. As an added bonus, they could give out posters of the film Crash for patrons to deface as they see fit.

See more brilliant ideas after the break!

Alexander: The Snore-Along Edition

Yes, believe it or not, Oliver Stone's toothless, de-gayed, interminable debacle could be re-released as the perfect cure for insomnia! Theater-goers will be giving a small fluffy pillow and an eye mask, but don't worry, a bell will ring on screen whenever there's something of interest, like .... um ... oh, when Angelina Jolie whispers "Alexsssssander" in her best Vampira voice, and when there are annoying, furtive glances between Alexander and Hephaestion. Pleasant nightmares!

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry: The Drink-Along Edition

How to get a gay audience to warm up to this stinker? Get them too stinking drunk to remember anything about it! Give each patron a shot glass and their choice of hard liquor, and every time something happens on screen that's eye-rolling, groan inducing, or just plain wrong, they have to down a shot. Note to theater owners: Have cabs and designated drivers ready by the thirty minute mark, and have an ample supply of barf bags on hand.

Shelter: The Tingler Edition

Back in 1959, filmmaker William Castle introduced one of the greatest gimmicks in film history: For his film The Tingler, he installed devices in certain seats in certain theaters that would send small shocks to the people sitting in them, during specific scary moments in the movie.

As I sat down to watch the wonderful gay romance Shelter, I realized I must have been in one of those theaters, because every time I saw Trevor Wright wet and shirtless, or he and Brad Rowe cuddling in bed, a strange tingling sensation would race through my nether regions.

They should be careful with that, though. At the end of the movie, I had a difficult time walking erect upright.

Torch Song Trilogy: The Kvetch and Moan-Along Edition

Be sure to stop at the entrance for your complimentary bunny slippers before you sit down for this special edition of the 1988 classic. Door prizes will be given to the gay men who bring the most overbearing mothers with them (bonus points for Jewish mothers). Because there will be an over-abundance of complaining on and off the screen, if the decibel level gets too loud, a siren will blare (which will actually be a combination of air horn and Fran Drescher's laugh).

So, what movies would you like to see re-released with audience participation gimmicks? Let us know in the comments!

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  • David Ehrenstein's picture

    The Adventures of Priscilla -- Queen of the Desert

    David Ehrenstein's picture

    Good News

    David Ehrenstein's picture

    High Society

    Joseph's picture

    C'mon Snicks

    You know you want a sing-along edition of The Pirate Movie:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llI2dtLL9Kk

    Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/

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    snicks's picture

    oh, please

    I still have the original cassette tape. Not the official soundtrack, but when i was nine and it was playing endlessly on HBO, i held my tape recorder up to the tv to record the songs.

    How can i live without her...when she's all i'm living for

    Joseph's picture

    I wish I still had the LP

    I had to buy the soundtrack twice; I played the first one until it was scratched to pieces. The second one...it sadly disappeared during a move a decade ago. I keep hoping and praying that Rhino or somebody will release it on CD.

    Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/

    Walford's picture

    The Pirate Movie!

    I'd forgotten all about that one. Then, a couple weeks back, I was channel surfing and Fox Movie Channel was showing it. I tuned in "for a minute or two" and watched the whole damn thing. And worst of all: I could still sing along to every stupid song. ("Keep pumpin! Blowin!") and anticipate dialogue ("Have you tried running in one of these things? It's a real bitch!")  It's amazing how our impressionable young minds get so deeply imprinted. Especially by Christopher Atkins in his cute little pirate pants.
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    Bill S's picture

    Interesting choices...

    David-any reason to show Guy Pierce shirtless is a good reason. I'm down with a sing-along of Priscilla and High Society. But that number from Good News could cause the theatre to collapse if the audience tried to imitate it Rocky Horror style.

    I have the 45 of "Did You Ever?" Got it at a garage sale that was selling mint-condition 45's from the 50's. The "A" side was "True Love".

    Joseph and snicks-how have I never seen The Pirate Movie? I was in my teens when that came out...maybe i was busy drooling over the cast of The Outsiders at the time. in any case it looks so beserk that it NEEDS a singalong like yesterday!

    If you have a stereo with an audio cassette recorder, and it's hooked up to your DVD player, you might be able to rent the movie and record the soundtrack onto a blank tape. I used to do that with my old one-I managed to record Meryl Streep's performance of "I'm Checkin' Out" from Postcards From the Edge and Elizabeth Shue singing "Babysitting Blues" from Adventures In Babysitting. I'm sure I have that tape buried somewhere upstairs (It's been a while since I listened to it.)

    dback's picture

    Why did "Adventures In Babysitting" never have a soundtrack?

    Future epitaph: "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

    So many 80's movies had generic, bad pop soundtracks, but one of the pleasures of that minor comedic gem was the terrific blues soundtrack.  "Babysitting Blues" was a goofy treat, but I also remember a couple great Southside Johnny and the Jukes tracks, plus other uptempo soul numbers.   Tragic! 

    (I hated the gratuitious homophobia of Brad, the older brother in the movie, but I get a kick watching it knowing that Anthony Rapp turned out to be gay in real life!)

    I wanna "Cry-Baby" singalong--I freely admit to knowing every lyric.

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    Bill S's picture

    Anthony Rapp played Daryl...

    ...not Brad, who was played by Keith Coogan. The homophobia of the character didn't bother me because it was fairly typical of a 15-year-old. I also wish there had been a soundtrack to the movie, especially that slow-dance number The Jukes did, which, as far as I can tell, wasn't included on any of their albums.

    Did anyone else think Vincent D'Onofrio was hot as the mechanic?

    Favorite quote from the movie:

    Daryl: He kicked my ass! Wanna see the footprint?

    Chris, Brad & Sarah (together): NO!!!!!

    Walford's picture

    Grease 2

    If we're going with the Pirate Movie, we have to share some of the love with Grease 2, another loveable cheeseball from that era. Imagine the costumes people could turn up in for "Girl for All Seasons." Imagine everyone putting on leis and Hawaiian shirts for the finale. Imagine a theater full of people belting "Cool Rider"! Sign me up.
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