4K Ultra HD Review – Russ Meyer’s Up! (1976)

      Up!, 1976.

      Directed by Russ Meyer.

      Starring Raven De La Croix, Edward Schaaf, Robert McLane, Candy Samples, Janet Wood, Su Ling, Kitten Natividad, Foxy Lae.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Adolf Hitler is alive and residing in 1970s America, but when he is murdered, a mysterious and alluring stranger arrives in the area.

      Even among Russ Meyer films, Up! stands out as unusual. It begins with Adolf Hitler (Edward Schaaf) – now calling himself Adolf Schwartz, a name he thinks will mislead everyone – living in a castle in present-day California, where he finds sexual pleasure with a man and three women. This lighthearted scene takes a turn when a mysterious stranger tosses a piranha into his bath, leading the hidden dictator to lose more than just his last asset, if the song's lyrics hold any truth.

      Shortly after, in the adjacent town of Miranda, seductive hitchhiker Margo Winchester (Raven De La Croix) arrives and captivates most of the local men – as well as some women – securing a job at the diner and getting closer to the local sheriff. But what brings her to town? The answer will unfold…

      The narrative is revealed in vivid close-up every few minutes. Up! signifies a return to form for Russ Meyer, coming after Supervixens bolstered his reputation for risqué humor and playful antics, following the disappointing reception of legal drama The Seven Minutes and blaxploitation film Black Snake earlier that decade. It is also viewed as one of his more progressive works, meaning that the characters in the film are notably uninhibited, showing a lack of concern about their sexual partners.

      This starts in the opening scenes with Adolf indulging with various women before consenting to be exploited by a man; a bold commentary, yet it feels somewhat off in tone, even though many filmmakers have found humor in Hitler's eccentricities over the years. The plot involving Hitler does eventually pay off, but for much of the runtime, it resembles a comedic sketch where the humor falls flat and is quickly set aside as Meyer returns to his usual themes.

      Meyer’s signature motifs are evident, including attractive women with ample bosoms, comedic characters – or perhaps caricatures? – and crude jokes, connected by a voiceover from a naked woman, played by Meyer regular Kitten Natividad as The Greek Chorus. Up! bounces along like a softcore version of The Benny Hill Show, with the alluring Raven De La Croix enchanting the locals with her provocative quips and assertive demeanor, while the bumbling sheriff takes the brunt of the humor, and the eccentric diner owners appear to engage with anyone they desire.

      This results in an abundance of stunning visuals, but a lack of substantial narrative. While fans of Russ Meyer don’t typically seek intelligent storytelling, aside from the visual flair – of which there is plenty – the overall experience feels a bit too insubstantial.

      Up! was the second-to-last film that Russ Meyer directed, and it's apparent that he was running low on fresh ideas, despite the energetic direction he maintained. When the light-hearted promiscuity shifts to darker themes, one has to question the film's overall intent. Nonetheless, Up! is mostly entertaining nonsense that will likely resonate with dedicated Russ Meyer fans and adolescent boys looking for some escapism, but casual viewers might find it excessively quirky compared to his earlier works from the 1960s.

      As with all the Russ Meyer 4K releases from Severin, the picture quality is excellent, highlighting details so sharply that one might almost identify ailments from the close-ups. Special features are limited, featuring only an audio commentary by film historian Elizabeth Purchell; however, the Blu-ray edition includes an interview with Raven De La Croix. For collectors, acquiring Up! will be a given, although its rewatch value pales in comparison to his other films released in this collection.

      SEE ALSO: Check out our review of the 4K Ultra HD release of Russ Meyer’s Motorpsycho! here

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Chris Ward