Bridget and Mary Jo

[bonkersforbonks]

Maybe I'm one of the minority, but I can't make it through 5 minutes of any Riff they do. Sure, there might be one or two laughs, but most of their comments don't land.

[Pak-Man]

You know, it took me a while. I ignored their riffs for a long time because they just weren't doing it for me, but then I was watching their riff of Angel's Revenge one night and I just got it. It's a very different energy from the Mike/Kevin/Bill tracks. They aren't there to take the movie down a peg. It's more of a "Let's just watch a silly movie together and make jokes" vibe. If you go in expecting that energy, I find it makes them funnier. So now there are times where I'm in a Mike/Kevin/Bill mood, and times where I'm in a Bridget/Mary Jo mood. Neither is superior. It's more a matter of tone.

[eegah]

You know, it took me a while. I ignored their riffs for a long time because they just weren't doing it for me, but then I was watching their riff of Angel's Revenge one night and I just got it. It's a very different energy from the Mike/Kevin/Bill tracks. They aren't there to take the movie down a peg. It's more of a "Let's just watch a silly movie together and make jokes" vibe. If you go in expecting that energy, I find it makes them funnier. So now there are times where I'm in a Mike/Kevin/Bill mood, and times where I'm in a Bridget/Mary Jo mood. Neither is superior. It's more a matter of tone.

Well put. We really enjoy their riffs as well. Some of the movies aren't really our cup of tea, though. I'm looking at you, black-and-white teenager movies.

[dbsommer]

They have a different chemistry from the guys. It feels more buddy/buddy. I prefer some of the older stuff they do to the newer movies, though. I think it works better.

[Pak-Man]

I'm gonna stand up for the Teen Ager movies (I really hate that they put that space there.) They tickle the part of me that grew up watching way too many old sitcoms on Nick-At-Nite, and Bridget and Mary Jo seem similarly charmed by them. I've heard there are a couple more of those movies out there somewhere but they're lost to time or something. I kinda hope they resurface some day so they can be riffed.

[ihavemyreasons]

I was reluctant at first, but IMO they are currently the 2 best riffers doing riffing and I look forward to their riffs more than the guys, new MST3K, etc. Got a little tired of the repetitiveness of the Sherlock Holmes movies, but enjoyed the teenager series and I hope for more of the Mary King Higgins Kuntz movie riffs.

[majorjoe23]

The Teen Ager movies are a secret guilty pleasure for me. I would watch those even without the riffing.

[LucasM]

For me, the guy's riffs have devolved into more simply complaining about the film, rather than 'riffing' them per se.  My idea on what constitutes a 'riff' is to make a funny comment triggered from the film.  Basically like a two-person comedy team: one [the film] delivers the 'straight line' [anything on screen or in dialogue], and the second person [the riffer] makes a funny comment about it.

Complaining or ragging on a film isn't funny, nor do I consider comments like that "riffs".*  Therefore, too much of MK&B's commentaries are not actually riffing the film as far as I'm concerned.  They actually haven't done what I consider riffing - certainly no 5 out of 5 star funny riffs - since about their 100th riff (actually 101: High School Musical).  And with most of theirs for a long time, I find both the films themselves and their complaining to be highly aversive.

Also: with them choosing bottom-of-the-barrel films, they are shooting fish in a barrel even with their complaints.  That's part of the reason they are so aversive: it's like complaining that the free coffee from the pot that's been sitting on the burner all day at a service station doesn't taste like a $10 fancy Starbucks drink.  I avoid people like that in real life - why would I PAY to listen to people bitch in that phenomenally emotionally immature way?

Bridget and Mary Jo still actually RIFF.  They choose something going on and make a funny comment regarding or building off of it.  They RARELY simply complain or bitch about the film.  So I actually find their riffs more watchable and enjoyable.  Some of the films I have a hard time sitting through more than once, but that's because of the film itself, not their riffing of it.


* For additional context: if you play a "riff" on the guitar, it is a creative little collection of notes.  It is NOT taking some wire cutters and snipping the strings.  B&MJ use creative little collections of notes.  MK&B have devolved into cutting the strings of their instrument.

[JP3PO]

For me, the guy's riffs have devolved into more simply complaining about the film, rather than 'riffing' them per se.  My idea on what constitutes a 'riff' is to make a funny comment triggered from the film.  Basically like a two-person comedy team: one [the film] delivers the 'straight line' [anything on screen or in dialogue], and the second person [the riffer] makes a funny comment about it.

Complaining or ragging on a film isn't funny, nor do I consider comments like that "riffs".*  Therefore, too much of MK&B's commentaries are not actually riffing the film as far as I'm concerned.  They actually haven't done what I consider riffing - certainly no 5 out of 5 star funny riffs - since about their 100th riff (actually 101: High School Musical).  And with most of theirs for a long time, I find both the films themselves and their complaining to be highly aversive.

Also: with them choosing bottom-of-the-barrel films, they are shooting fish in a barrel even with their complaints.  That's part of the reason they are so aversive: it's like complaining that the free coffee from the pot that's been sitting on the burner all day at a service station doesn't taste like a $10 fancy Starbucks drink.  (...) Bridget and Mary Jo still actually RIFF.  They choose something going on and make a funny comment regarding or building off of it.

Largely my view as well: MST's premise justified some complaint, since the riffers were being *subjected* to the films. Even then, the Mads could apologize for how bad a film was. Now, we're paying for the privilege of listening to them complain ... about a movie they chose to watch.

MJ/B skew closer to the Joel-era mood, commenting with ironic distance. Results may vary; the Holmes movies had me thinking I would stop buying their riffs. And then I would have missed out on Amanda and the Alien, Earth Angel and Teenage Space Vampires. Lately they've been riding pretty consistently over Lifetime-ish movies.

I'm guessing it's just that The Guys are still aiming for a younger male audience (younger in attitude if not fact), while MJ/B seem to recognize (and target) that a lot of their audience are women (Angels Revenge) and even mothers (Amanda And The Alien).

[Bailan]

I like their Riffs.  They are the only guest riffers I really listen to regularly. 

I think they have a nice chemistry.  They laugh at each others jokes often and their commentaries have more of a natural, conversational feel to them, like two really talkative friends watching the movie together at home. 

[losingmydignity]

Love their work too and let me put in a word for the Teenager movies. Hope they are back to riffing old movies now.

[Pastor of Muppets]

But can it really be called "Rifftrax" if you don't shoehorn in a Nick Nolte joke?

[itsbetterthanzipo]

Love all the positivity about these (I assume) great gals but I have to agree with the op here. They (to me) are simply not funny. Its like watching the golden girls or the cast of the view watch a bad movie. Their jokes do not land, I cannot relate to 90% of what they are talking about and its just not fun. I have noticed a lot of recent media is featuring them, almost to the point it may be time to take a break from rifftrax for a bit.

[Edward J Grug III]

Can't you just skip their releases?

I love them, but I don't understand why them releasing riffs makes you want to take a break from Rifftrax?

[itsbetterthanzipo]

Well. I pay to laugh, that means if what I am seeing is not making me laugh, and they are going to focus for a while on things that do not make me laugh, then perhaps I should stop paying for that which does not make me laugh and come back when they shift focus to things that do make me laugh. Look I am not so self centered to think that everything on this site or anywhere had to cater to my likes alone. If I like the steak I don't expect a vegan to come to the establishment and pay the same price for a plate of green beans. They don't like steak and I don't expect them to keep paying for it when they can get a perfectly good vegan meal up the road.  I am also sure these two ladies have plenty of fans and love their content, it just not for me. I'm not going to complain or whine I am simply going to vote with my wallet if this continues. Now if they keep up a good mix of riffers I' am fine with that it just appears as though they are posting a lot more of the ladies and a lot less of everyone else.