DVD review (region 1)
Directed by Patrick Beacham
Starring Mark Boeker, Carol DeSalles, Gorneth D'Oyley, Dan Heinrich
Release date Out now

The quirky tale of a bunch of people who sit down to discuss life, the universe and Star Wars…

There is something oddly poetic about a film in which a bunch of truly appalling actors sit around in a truly appalling film and slate the Star Wars prequels for crimes against its audience. Surely the makers of a film that represents an ill-conceived critical assault on somebody else’s work would at least have the decency to make their own work witty, insightful and entertaining? Apparently not; this is entertainment aimed squarely at the lowest common denominator (and the unassuming completist).

The truth of the matter is that every fan has analysed the films in minutiae and The Audience Strikes Back offers nothing that a thousand late night conversations haven’t dealt with. Throwing in topical material about the Bush administration is all very well, but it doesn’t go anywhere and is likely to further irritate anyone who bought this for wall-to-wall Star Wars discussion.

George Lucas might have made some crimes against cinema – that would be you, Phantom Menace – but that cinematic folly is Citizen Kane compared to this utterly horrifying 111-minute whinge. Viewers should be warned that the movie's terrible CD soundtrack is also included. Adam Herman

VERDICT: 0/10
An atrocious cash-in that is far more offensive than its target.

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